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Category: Business

  • MIL-OSI Security: Principals of Fire Alarm Repair Company Plead Guilty to Decade-Long Scheme to Defraud New York City Agencies

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendants Overbilled City Agencies Using Fabricated Invoices with Fraudulently Inflated Prices and Shell Companies

    Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Walter Stanzione and William Neogra, the principals of a fire alarm maintenance company, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy.  Both defendants were charged with a decade-long scheme to defraud the City of New York by seeking payment on millions of dollars of grossly inflated fraudulent bills.  The proceedings were held before United States Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Marutollo.  When sentenced, each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison.

    John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Leslie R. Backschies, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), Jocelyn E. Strauber, Commissioner, New York City Department of Investigation (DOI) and Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI New York) announced the charges.

    “For over a decade, the City of New York relied on the defendants to ensure that the fire safety systems in hundreds of city buildings were in safe, working order,” stated United States Attorney Durham. “The defendants abused this position of trust so that they could scheme and steal, defrauding New York City out of millions of dollars.  The guilty pleas announced today make clear that reprehensible conduct like this will be uncovered and prosecuted.”

    “Millions of dollars went up in smoke as Walter Stanzione and William Neogra fraudulently inflated the cost of their company’s products to finance personal luxurious purchases,” stated Acting FBI Assistant Director in Charge Backschies.  “For more than ten years, the defendants charged various New York City clients exaggerated pricing for fire alarm systems and obfuscated this misconduct through doctored invoices.  The FBI remains determined to protect our city’s citizens and infrastructure from criminals seeking to unlawfully profit with little concern for safety.”

    “Stanzione and Neogra orchestrated a scheme to defraud the City of New York.  They created shell companies to pass-through supplies sold to NYC agencies at inflated prices with false invoices.  Millions of dollars were billed over a decade, and the excessive profit left these fraudsters living large.  Today’s plea means the defendants’ lifestyle will go from extravagant in size to a reduction in square feet,” stated IRS-CI New York Special Agent in Charge Chavis.

    “These defendants systematically inflated costs billed to multiple City agencies—including the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, the Department of Education, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Department of Sanitation, for more than a decade,” stated DOI Commissioner Strauber.  “When vendors exploit their contractual relationship with the City by overbilling, they steal public funds from City taxpayers.  I thank our federal law enforcement partners for their commitment to protect the City’s resources and to ensure vendors who commit fraud are held responsible.”

    As set forth in various public court filings and in today’s proceedings, the defendants exercised control over Fire Alarm Electrical Corp., a company that held numerous contracts with New York City agencies to repair and maintain fire alarm systems.  For more than a decade, the defendants overbilled those agencies by submitting fraudulent invoices with dramatically inflated prices.  They accomplished this scheme in several ways:

    • The defendants created numerous shell companies that were secretly owned by defendant Stanzione.  After purchasing supplies from legitimate retailers, the defendants would re-invoice the parts through the shell companies for roughly three to five times the real purchase price, ultimately passing along those “costs” to the City.
    • The defendants took advantage of pre-existing shell companies that were being used in other ongoing frauds.  For example, the defendants used shell companies created by convicted EDNY defendant David Motovich, which Motovich had used in an entirely separate fraud scheme that was also investigated and prosecuted by EDNY, FBI, DOI and IRS (21-CR-497).
    • When city auditors became suspicious of the shell companies, the defendants fraudulently modified the documents of legitimate retailers, passing off the altered invoices from these companies as if they were genuine.

    These methods enabled the defendants to submit millions of dollars of fictitious payment requests to four separate city agencies over an eleven-year period.  Defendant Stanzione, the leader of the fraud, then siphoned off much of the ill-gotten gains and used the stolen money to fund his family’s lavish spending habits.

    The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section.  Assistant United States  Attorneys Erik Paulsen, Michael Gibaldi and Eric Silverberg are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Kavya Kannan.

    The Defendants:

    WALTER STANZIONE
    Age: 66
    East Meadow, Long Island

    WILLIAM NEOGRA
    Age: 65
    Millsboro, Delaware

    E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-482 (RPK)

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fraud Conspiracy Leader Sentenced

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PROVIDENCE – A Johnston man, identified in court documents as the leader of a conspiracy that used stolen personal identifications of unsuspecting individuals to gain financing for the purchase of Land Rovers from dealerships in Rhode Island and New Hampshire, has been sentenced to two-and-one-half years in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.

    Dennis Odoom, 27, previously admitted to a federal judge that he enlisted others to join the conspiracy. Odoom admitted that he provided a co-conspirator with a fraudulent ID and that he drove that person to a dealership in New Hampshire to pick up a Land Rover valued at $96,256 purchased with fraudulently obtained credit. The person accompanying him was expecting to be paid $2,000 by Odoom.

    Additionally, court documents allege that fraudulently obtained financing was used by co-conspirators to purchase a Land Rover from a Rhode Island dealership. The final sales price for the vehicle and financing was $111,183.

    Odoom was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. Dubose to a term of 30 months of incarceration to be followed by three years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay a fine of $1,000. Restitution will be determined by the court at a later date. Odoom pleaded guilty on December 12, 2024, to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

    A co-defendant in this matter, Roy Sweets, 27, of Pawtucket, pleaded guilty on March 18, 2025, to a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10, 2025.

    A third defendant, Adalberto Mauricio Romero, 28, of Providence, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

    The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr.

    The matter was investigated by Warwick, RI, and Bedford, NH, Police Departments, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Eric Peter Weschke of AdvancedFolio Capital Management Rings NYSE Closing Bell

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SETAUKET, N.Y., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Eric Peter Weschke, president and CEO of AdvancedFolio Capital Management, joined an elite group of financial leaders by ringing the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Closing Bell. The event, broadcast live on CNBC, marked a significant achievement for Weschke, a 29-year veteran of the financial services industry and a prominent New York financial educator.

    Image by AdvancedFolio Capital Management

    For Weschke, this milestone represents a full-circle moment, as his journey in finance began decades ago, inspired by his mother, a pioneer who worked on the NYSE floor in the late 1960s.   “Being on the NYSE trading floor and ringing the closing bell was truly surreal,” Weschke says. “As a child, I remember visiting the exchange with my mother, who was among the first women to work there. To now be here, participating in a historic tradition, is an incredible honor both personally and professionally.”

    Eric Peter Weschke Celebrates Financial Leadership at NYSE

    The NYSE Closing Bell Ceremony is a symbolic tradition that marks the end of the trading day, often reserved for industry leaders, top executives, and companies making significant contributions to the financial world. Weschke’s participation reflects his longstanding influence in financial education, asset management, and wealth preservation strategies.

    The invitation to ring the closing bell places Weschke among distinguished financial figures who have shaped the industry. This honor acknowledges his contributions to advancing investor education and developing innovative wealth management approaches throughout his career. The ceremony, witnessed by traders, executives, and millions of viewers, showcases AdvancedFolio’s growing influence in the financial services sector.

    “This isn’t just a personal achievement; it’s a reflection of the trust our clients place in us and the strength of the brand we’ve built at AdvancedFolio Capital Management,” Weschke says.

    AdvancedFolio Capital Management Showcases Success on National Stage

    Founded by Eric Peter Weschke, AdvancedFolio Capital Management has established itself as a premier financial firm, offering personalized investment strategies and financial planning solutions. The firm prioritizes a client-first approach, crafting customized solutions while balancing asset protection with effective risk management.

    “At AdvancedFolio, our mission is simple: to provide our clients with strategic, tax-efficient investment plans that ensure long-term financial security,” Weschke says. “We’re not just managing wealth—we’re building financial confidence.”

    This commitment extends to education, with hundreds of free seminars and workshops offered to boost financial literacy among clients and the broader community. The firm’s expertise has earned national recognition, from appearances on CNBC to features in financial publications and high-profile industry events.

    “The success of AdvancedFolio Capital Management isn’t just about numbers; it’s about helping people build sustainable financial futures,” Weschke says. “The recognition we’ve received, from Nasdaq’s National Board in Times Square in 2021 to the NYSE Closing Bell in 2025, reflects our dedication to excellence.”

    Reflecting on the NYSE Immersion Moment

    “The excitement inside the exchange was electric,” he says. “The anticipation of ringing the bell, knowing it was being broadcast nationwide, was an unforgettable experience. It’s moments like these that remind me why I chose this career: to be part of something bigger than myself and contribute to the financial well-being of others.”

    During his visit, Weschke engaged in discussions with NYSE executives, traders, and financial analysts, gaining valuable insights into the current state of the markets and future trends.

    “It was fascinating to hear firsthand perspectives from professionals who operate at the heart of the financial world,” Weschke says. “From market analysts to on-air CNBC personalities, the exchange is a hub of financial expertise.”

    Beyond the ceremony, Weschke took a behind-the-scenes tour of the NYSE, where he gained a new appreciation for the technology and operations driving global financial markets.

    “Seeing the trading floor up close, rather than just on TV, gave me a whole new perspective,” Weschke says. “The floor is smaller than it appears on screen, but the energy, the technology, and the precision with which everything runs is remarkable.”

    A Career of Achievement

    Throughout his career, Eric Peter Weschke has been recognized for his expertise in institutional investment theory, risk management, and tax-efficient retirement income strategies. As a nationally published financial expert and speaker, he has guided countless individuals, families, and businesses toward achieving their financial goals.

    Among his professional accomplishments:

    • Former National Speaker on financial strategies for corporations across the U.S.
    • Chief Technical Analyst for the Swing-Trader Market Newsletter.
    • Senior Executive Syndicate Underwriting Team Member for a $20M Initial Public Bond Offering.
    • Senior VP and Northeast Regional Planner for First National Bank of Arizona.
    • Advisor of the Year (2003) for outstanding financial planning performance.
    • #1 Nationally Ranked Representative for Northwestern Mutual (1993) based on volume.

    Weschke is also a licensed investment advisor and 1031 Exchange Specialist, ensuring that his clients receive comprehensive, well-informed financial guidance.

    “Success in finance isn’t just about numbers; it’s about trust, relationships, and delivering long-term results,” Weschke says. “At  AdvancedFolio Capital Management, we’re committed to making a real impact in people’s lives.”

    Eric Peter Weschke’s Message to Clients and the Industry

    As Weschke reflects on his participation in the NYSE Closing Bell Ceremony, he hopes the event sends a powerful message to his clients and professional network.

    “This moment reinforces our firm’s relevance and credibility in today’s financial world,” Weschke says. “It’s proof that  AdvancedFolio Capital Management is being recognized at the highest levels for the work we do. Our exposure through CNBC, the NYSE, and Nasdaq has only strengthened our brand and mission.”

    With the future in focus, Weschke remains committed to expanding AdvancedFolio Capital Management, enhancing client services, and continuing to shape the financial landscape through education, innovation, and trust.

    “This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but it’s just the beginning,” Weschke says. “We’re building something that will last, something that will help generations achieve financial stability and success.”

    About AdvancedFolio Capital Management

    AdvancedFolio Capital Management is a Setauket-based financial advisory firm committed to delivering personalized investment strategies and proactive wealth management solutions. By focusing on client education and disciplined financial planning, the firm helps individuals and families achieve their financial goals with confidence and clarity.

    Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Investors are advised to consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Investment advisory services are offered through Coppell Advisory Solutions, LLC dba Fusion Capital Management, an SEC registered investment advisor. The firm only transacts business in states where it is properly registered or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. SEC registration is not an endorsement of the firm by the commission and does not mean that the advisor has attained a specific level of skill or ability. See full disclosures on FusionCM.com/compliance. Insurance and annuity products are not sold through Fusion Capital Management. Fusion does not endorse any annuity or insurance product, nor does it guarantee any insurance or annuity performance. Annuity and life insurance guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. If you withdraw money from or surrender your contract within a certain time after investing, the insurance company may assess a surrender charge. Withdrawals may be subject to tax penalties and income taxes. Persons selling annuities and other insurance products receive compensation for these transactions. These commissions are separate and distinct from Fusion’s investment advisory fees.

    Media Contact:

    Eric Peter Weschke
    AdvancedFolio Capital Management
    Phone: 631-675-1885
    Email: eric@advancedfolio.com
    Website: https://www.advancedfolio.com/

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/687a81d7-e1d7-4935-99ab-6e5f9f487014

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Modern spacesuits have a compatability problem. Astronauts’ lives depend on fixing it

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Berna Akcali Gur, Lecturer in Outer Space Law, Queen Mary University of London

    Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, the Nasa astronauts who were stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) for nine months, have finally returned to Earth.

    Spacesuits were an important consideration that Nasa had to factor into its plans to bring the astronauts back home. Wilmore and Williams had travelled to the ISS in Boeing’s experimental Starliner spacecraft, so they arrived wearing Boeing “Blue” spacesuits.

    Following helium leaks and thruster (engine) issues with Starliner, Nasa decided it was safer not to send them back to Earth on that vehicle. The astronauts had to wait to return on one of the other spacecraft that ferry crew members to the ISS, the SpaceX Crew Dragon.

    This meant they needed a different type of spacesuit, made by SpaceX for use in its vehicle only. Boeing’s suits cannot be used in Crew Dragon in part because the umbilicals (the flexible “pipes” that supply air and cooling to the suit) have connections and standards that don’t work with the ports inside a Crew Dragon.

    This highlights a general problem for the growing number of space agencies and companies sending people into orbit, and for planned missions to the Moon and beyond. Ensuring that different spacesuits are compatible, or “interoperable”, with spacecraft they weren’t designed to be used in is vital if we are to protect astronauts’ lives during an emergency in space, especially in joint missions.

    The spacesuits worn during a return from space are called “launch, entry and abort” (LEA) suits. These are airtight and provide life support to the astronauts in case there is a decompression, when air is lost from the cabin.

    Unfortunately, a decompression has already caused loss of life in space. During the Soyuz 11 mission in 1971, three Soviet cosmonauts visited the world’s first space station, Salyut 1. But during preparations for re-entry, the crew cabin lost its air, killing cosmonauts Georgy Dobrovolsky, Vladislav Volkov and Viktor Patsayev, who were not wearing LEA suits. All cosmonauts wore them after this incident.

    As well as the connections for life support, the Boeing and SpaceX suits also have restraints and connections for communications that are specific to each vehicle. For their return home from the ISS in a SpaceX capsule, Williams was able into use a spare SpaceX suit that was already aboard the space station and the company sent up an additional suit on a cargo delivery for Wilmore to wear.

    Two spacecraft are usually docked at the ISS as “lifeboats” to evacuate the astronauts in the event of an emergency. These are generally a SpaceX Crew Dragon and a Russian Soyuz capsule.

    If an emergency evacuation were to occur and there weren’t enough of the right spacesuits available – for either the Crew Dragon or Soyuz – it could endanger astronauts during the fiery re-entry through Earth’s atmosphere. Interoperability between spacesuits has therefore become a matter of survival.

    The Outer Space Treaty, which provides the basic framework for international space law, recognises astronauts as “envoys of humankind” and grants them specific legal protections. These were expanded on in subsequent UN treaties – notably the Rescue Agreement, which imposes a range of duties on states to render assistance to each others’ astronauts in cases of emergency, accident or distress.

    For the ISS, a collaborative space programme with international flight crews, protocols include terms that set forth how this obligation is to be met. However, these protocols do not contain terms relating to spacesuit interoperability.

    Risks to astronauts in space

    A major potential cause of an emergency evacuation is space debris. The ISS has regularly had to manoeuvre to avoid collisions with debris – including entire defunct satellites.

    In his memoir, Endurance, Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly describes being commanded to enter the Soyuz vehicle with two other crew members and prepare to detach from the ISS because of a close approach by a large defunct satellite. Luckily, the spacecraft passed by harmlessly.

    As orbits become increasingly congested, with an exponential increase in the number of space objects being launched, the risk of collisions will also increase.

    Ever more companies and governments are entering the human spaceflight arena. The Tiangong space station, China’s orbiting laboratory, has been fully operational since 2022, and there are plans to open it to space tourism, just like the ISS.

    India is planning to join the community of nations with the capability to launch humans into space, under a programme called Gaganyaan. And while most space travellers remain government-funded astronauts, the number of private space-farers is increasing.

    Billionaire Jared Isaacman (who is President Trump’s nominee to run Nasa) has commanded two private missions into orbit using Crew Dragon. On the second of these, he participated in the first spacewalk by privately funded astronauts. The ISS is set to be retired in 2030 – but one company, Houston-based Axiom Space, is already building a private space station.

    Against this complex and part-unregulated backdrop, ensuring the interoperability of different spacecraft systems, including spacesuits, will increase levels of safety in this inherently risky activity.

    While the safety and practicality of spacesuits has always been the top priority, compatibility between different suits and vehicles should also be high on the list. This requires space agencies and private spaceflight companies to engage with each other in a process to agree on standard interfaces and connections for life support and communications, across all their suits and space vehicles.

    Amid this period of increased commercialisation and competition between the organisations and companies involved in orbital spaceflight, a move toward greater collaboration can only be a good thing.

    Berna Akcali Gur does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Modern spacesuits have a compatability problem. Astronauts’ lives depend on fixing it – https://theconversation.com/modern-spacesuits-have-a-compatability-problem-astronauts-lives-depend-on-fixing-it-252935

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 1702, JUDGES Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    Bill Summary

    H.R. 1702 would permanently authorize 65 new district court judgeships and authorize 1 judgeship for a five-year appointment. The bill would add new judgeships every two years from 2025 through 2035.

    The bill also would authorize appropriations for the administrative costs of the affected district courts. Finally, H.R. 1702 would reorganize certain judicial districts in California, Texas, and Utah and would require the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to the Congress.

    Estimated Federal Cost

    The estimated budgetary effect of H.R. 1702 is shown in Table 1. The costs of the legislation fall within budget function 750 (administration of justice).

    Table 1.

    Estimated Budgetary Effects of H.R. 1702
     

    By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars

    		    
     

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030

    2031

    2032

    2033

    2034

    2035

    2025-2030

    2025-2035
     

    Increases in Direct Spending

    		    

    Estimated Budget Authority

    *

    3

    4

    7

    8

    10

    12

    14

    15

    18

    20

    32

    111

    Estimated Outlays

    *

    3

    4

    7

    8

    10

    12

    14

    15

    18

    20

    32

    111
     

    Increases in Spending Subject to Appropriation

    		    

    Estimated Authorization

    13

    14

    24

    24

    33

    33

    44

    44

    53

    53

    62

    141

    397

    Estimated Outlays

    *

    5

    12

    16

    20

    26

    30

    36

    40

    47

    51

    79

    283

    * = between zero and $500,000.

    Basis of Estimate

    For this estimate, CBO assumes that the legislation will be enacted in fiscal year 2025 and that the authorized and estimated amounts will be provided in each year beginning in 2025. Estimated outlays are based on historical spending patterns for the affected activities.

    Direct Spending

    The compensation (that is, salary and benefits) of judges in federal district courts is classified as direct spending in the federal budget. In 2024, the average compensation for each judge was $270,000. Using information from the AOUSC about past and projected pay increases, CBO estimates that compensation costs for each new judge would be $280,000 in 2025 and would rise to $335,000 in 2035. Based on the time required for Congressional confirmations of judges in recent years and the schedule specified in the bill, CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1702 would increase direct spending by $111 million over the 2025-2035 period.

    Spending Subject to Appropriation

    CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1702 would cost $79 million over the 2025-2030 period and $283 million over the 2025-2035 period for administrative expenses and other costs. Any related spending would be subject to the appropriation of the necessary funds.

    Administrative expenses. The bill would authorize the appropriation of specific amounts each year through 2035 for administrative expenses, including compensation for staff and overhead for facilities, security, and technology. The bill would further authorize those amounts to increase each year by the percentage increase in inflation in the previous year. Using the inflation projections that underlie CBO’s baseline, we estimate that the bill would authorize appropriations totaling $397 million over the 2025-2035 period. Based on the expected costs for staff and other administrative expenses, CBO expects that the courts will not need the full amounts that would be authorized in the bill.

    Using information from the AOUSC about district courts’ typical administrative costs, CBO estimates that the cost of the first year of operation for a new court would average $760,000, and that, once fully established, each new court would operate at an average annual cost of about $700,000 over the 2025-2030 period. CBO expects that the costs of operating the new courts would rise over time as more judgeships are authorized and staffed and to accommodate pay increases and inflation. In total, CBO estimates that operating the new courts would cost $282 million over the 2025-2035 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts.

    Other costs. Additionally, H.R. 1702 would require GAO to report to the Congress on judiciary caseloads and federal agencies’ need for detention space. Using information about the cost of similar reports, CBO estimates that the report would cost $1 million over the 2025-2030 period.

    Finally, H.R. 1702 also would reorganize certain districts in California and Texas by adding localities to their jurisdictions. The AOUSC would be required to report every two years detailing the recommendations and methodology used by the Judicial Conference of the United States for judicial nominations. Using information from the AOUSC, CBO estimates that the costs of implementing those provisions would not be significant.

    Any spending related to the reports would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

    Pay-As-You-Go Considerations

    The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 establishes budget-reporting and enforcement procedures for legislation affecting direct spending or revenues. The net changes in outlays that are subject to those pay-as-you-go procedures are shown in Table 1.

    Increase in Long-Term Net Direct Spending and Deficits

    CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1702 would not increase net direct spending by more than $2.5 billion in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2036.

    CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1702 would not increase on‑budget deficits by more than $5 billion in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2036.

    Mandates

    The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.

    Federal Costs: Jon Sperl

    Mandates: Grace Watson

    Estimate Reviewed By

    Justin Humphrey
    Chief, Finance, Housing, and Education Cost Estimates Unit

    Kathleen FitzGerald 
    Chief, Public and Private Mandates Unit

    H. Samuel Papenfuss 
    Deputy Director of Budget Analysis

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Consumer Alert: Attorney General Alan Wilson says South Carolinians should consider deleting 23andMe accounts to protect personal dataRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – Attorney General Alan Wilson says South Carolinians with a 23andMe account should consider deleting it to protect their personal information. The genetic testing company is filing for bankruptcy.

    “This company has sensitive information about the people who have used it. We don’t know what will happen to the company as part of any potential bankruptcy proceedings, but that personal data could be an asset that gets transferred or sold,” Attorney General Wilson said. “The best way to protect your personal information is to delete your account.”

    Currently, consumers wishing to delete their accounts can file a request at this link:  Requesting 23andMe Account Closure – 23andMe Customer Care.  

    For more information on 23andMe’s decision to file for bankruptcy, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Citing Potential Tsunami of Medicaid Cuts, Cantwell to Vote Against Advancing Dr. Oz: “I Cannot Support This Nomination”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    03.25.25
    Citing Potential Tsunami of Medicaid Cuts, Cantwell to Vote Against Advancing Dr. Oz: “I Cannot Support This Nomination”
    Trump nominated Dr. Mehmet Oz to oversee Medicare and Medicaid as GOP pushes spending bill that would necessitate slashing Medicaid; Cantwell: “My colleagues who are trying to play down this threat […] it’s either bad math or bad faith.”; In tour across WA last week, Cantwell heard from patients & providers who would be devastated by Medicaid cuts
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), senior member of the Senate Finance Committee and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, said she’ll vote against advancing Dr. Mehmet Oz – Trump’s nominee for Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – to the full Senate for a final confirmation vote.
    During a markup today of the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Cantwell cited Dr. Oz’s refusal to stick up for Medicaid during his hearing earlier this month, especially in the face of a draconian GOP budget bill that would necessitate massive cuts. The committee vote is scheduled for later today at 2:15 p.m. ET/11:15 a.m. PT.
    “He wouldn’t commit. He would not say no, and certainly not no to President Trump, or Elon Musk, or to the House of Representatives. The House committee that oversees Medicaid and Medicare is responsible for finding $880 billion from these cuts,” Sen. Cantwell said. “The only real place to get this is, particularly if Medicare is off the table, is from Medicaid. Even if the Committee completely eliminated every single other program in the E&C account, it still gives them one-sixth of what they need.
    “So make no mistake, there is no other way to meet this mandate [than] to impact Medicaid. My colleagues who are trying to play down this threat, or act like there’s some other way around it –it’s just not so. It’s either bad math or bad faith.”
    Last week, Sen. Cantwell heard from voices across Washington state about the dangers of President Trump and the GOP’s proposed cuts to Medicaid. Doctors, patients, and health care providers in Seattle, Spokane, and the Tri-Cities warned that such cuts would devastate Washington state’s health care system and limit access to lifesaving care.
              WATCH:
              FOX 13 Seattle: WA health leaders join Sen. Cantwell against proposed Medicaid cuts
              KREM 2 Spokane: Spokane doctors, patients speak at Medicaid roundtable hosted by Sen. Cantwell
              KAPP 35 Tri-Cities: MARIA CANTWELL: How proposed cuts to Medicaid could impact South Central Washington
    Sen. Cantwell concluded her remarks today by calling on her colleagues to join her in defending Medicaid.
    “So, with this tsunami of cuts that we’re looking at, I cannot support this nomination. I hope my colleagues will turn it down as well,” Sen. Cantwell said.
    Last month, Sen. Cantwell released a snapshot report highlighting the impact that slashing Medicaid to fund tax cuts for corporations and the ultra-wealthy would have on Washington state’s health care system — especially in Central and Eastern Washington. Sen. Cantwell released a second snapshot report highlighting impacts on the Seattle-area health care delivery system.
    READ MORE:
    The Seattle Times: Cuts to Medicaid would hurt WA’s children, poor
    The Spokesman Review: Medicaid could be on chopping block after Northwest Republicans help pass House budget measure
    The Tri-City Herald: Newhouse backs House GOP budget plan that could lead to cuts for Tri-Cities Medicaid users
    Medicaid is the federal program that insures many low-income adults and children, pregnant people, seniors, and people with disabilities. Washington state’s Medicaid program, Apple Health, ensures that eligible Washingtonians can afford to seek health care and see providers when they need to. The program also ensures that hospitals — which are required to treat everyone, regardless of their ability to pay — receive reimbursements for the significant number of low-income people they serve. Over 1.9 million Washingtonians are enrolled in Apple Health.
    Late last month, the House of Representatives passed a funding bill that would necessitate $880 billion in cuts from the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicaid. Supporters of the bill claim that the text includes no mention of Medicaid — however, the extent of the cuts required by the legislation would mean that the committee has essentially no other options other than to hack away at Medicaid.
    Video of Sen. Cantwell’s remarks today are available HERE, audio HERE, and a full transcript is HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Building A More Equitable Future for New York Workers

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today recognized Equal Pay Day, marking the ongoing struggle against the gender wage gap and pledging to continue the fight for equal pay for all workers in New York State. Equal Pay Day symbolizes how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned in the previous year, highlighting that women are often paid less than their male colleagues. This disparity remains one of the foremost challenges facing the labor market across the State and nation. The New York State Department of Labor recently analyzed newly available data from 2023 and found that women working full-time, year-round in New York State were paid 87.3 cents for every dollar that men were paid. While there is still much more progress to be made to bridge the gap, New York’s gender wage gap is narrow compared to the national average of 81.1 cents per dollar. In fact, New York had the third smallest wage gap among states in the nation, behind Vermont and Rhode Island.

    “Women are too often the first to care for a child or an aging parent, sacrificing their own financial security in the process and in New York we refuse to accept this as the status quo,” Governor Hochul said. “We are doing the hard work. We’ve enshrined abortion rights in our constitution, guaranteed women 20 hours of paid prenatal leave, expanded access to childcare, developed workforce development programs to expand opportunities for women and bolster our Minority and Women Owned Business Programs — because when women have the freedom and support to succeed, our entire economy grows. Equal pay isn’t just about fairness; it’s about building a stronger, more equitable future for all and as New York’s first woman Governor, this is a fight I look forward to winning.”

    The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) analysis also found that women of color continue to face even higher disparities, with Hispanic women and Black women earning 60.6 cents and 67.7 cents respectively for every dollar earned by white, non-Hispanic men. To put these numbers another way, a woman earning the median income in New York State ($62,111) earned $9,057 less than her male counterpart in 2023. If this wage gap were to remain unchanged, she would earn $362,280 less than a man earning the median wage over the course of a 40-year career.

    New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “Equal Pay Day reminds us that more must be done to close the Gender Wage Gap. Although we have made significant progress, economic inequalities persist. The work of women continues to be undervalued and underpaid. That must change. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, we will continue to advance efforts to eliminate all barriers preventing New Yorkers from reaching their full earning potential, regardless of gender.”

    Since taking office, Governor Hochul has remained focused on taking nation-leading steps to close the Gender Wage Gap. Child care obligations remain a persistent contributing factor to the Gender Wage Gap. In her 2025 State of the State Address and Fiscal Year 2026 State Executive Budget Proposal, the Governor prioritized a number of family-focused initiatives designed to create a more equitable labor market. The establishment of the New York Coalition for Child Care, the creation of a child care substitute pool, and a $100 million child care construction fund to build new and renovate existing childcare facilities are all part of the Governor’s multi-year effort to move New York State closer to achieving universal child care, an essential step to ensure the full and equal participation of women in the workforce. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State has invested more than $7 billion to expand child care accessibility. Governor Hochul is also proposing a historic expansion of New York’s Child Tax Credit, impacting more than 1.5 million families and representing the single largest boost to the state’s child tax credit in history.

    These proposals build on Governor Hochul’s prior actions to create a more equitable labor market. New York is now the first state in the nation to mandate 20 hours of Paid Prenatal Leave, ensuring that no pregnant worker needs to choose between a paycheck and a checkup. In 2024, New York expanded workplace rights by mandating paid time off for breast milk expression. Critically, both benefits are available for full and part-time workers, as studies show women are more likely than men to work part-time.

    State Senator Jessica Ramos said, “I am proud of the work we have done in partnership with Governor Hochul to close the race and gender-based wage gap. New York has been a leader in improving salary transparency, equipping employers with the ability to attract top talent and qualified candidates, with the ability to negotiate for the wages and benefits they deserve. This is how we fight the feminization of poverty.”

    Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson said, “As Chair of the Labor Committee, I fight hard every day for an equitable, inclusive economy, and we cannot have a fair economy without equitable pay for everyone. It’s time we put an end to the wage gap where women are paid less than their male counterparts for the same job. And for Black Women, Native American Women and Latina women – the pay gap is even more extreme. I will continue working with the Governor, NYSDOL, my legislative partners and the hardworking women of New York, to promote equity of opportunity to permanently end the wage disparity.”

    The minimum wage in New York also continues to rise as part of Governor Hochul’s historic, multi-year agreement with the State Legislature. NYSDOL’s Gender Wage Gap Report found that the majority of minimum wage workers are women of color. By raising the minimum wage, New York continues to put money in the pockets of women across the state. At the same time, New York’s Pay Transparency law requires employers to include pay ranges on all job postings, empowering women to make better informed career decisions and ensure they are being paid fairly.

    NYSDOL also continues to empower women via its Career Centers throughout the state. These centers offer career counseling, skills development, resume assistance, interview tips, and referrals to high-earning jobs at no cost to all New Yorkers. The Department also offers a salary negotiation guide to help New Yorkers maximize their earning potential.

    As part of its effort to highlight and address the gender wage gap, NYSDOL continues to monitor and provide yearly updates on the state of pay equity in New York. This commitment ensures transparency and informs data-driven strategies to support a labor market that values and compensates all workers fairly.

    For more information about the New York State Department of Labor’s initiatives to combat the gender wage gap and to support workforce equality, visit the Gender Wage Gap Hub.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s job cuts are causing Republican angst as all parties face backlash

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Thomas Gift, Associate Professor and Director of the Centre on US Politics, UCL

    A spate of town hall meetings held across the US has revealed palpable anger among both Democratic and Republican voters. At some events, voters have spoken to “empty chairs” in lieu of Congress members who refused to show their faces. At others, lawmakers have been booed, heckled and faced raucous audiences.

    What’s striking isn’t just the outrage, but where it’s coming from. Much of the backlash is from parties’ own voters.

    Things have become particularly bad for Republicans. So much so that party leaders have urged lawmakers to host live-streamed or call-in events rather than in-person town halls. President Donald Trump has baselessly blamed “paid agitators” for the fallout. But some backlash doubtlessly comes from Trump supporters.

    Republican angst might suggest a discrepancy between their abstract support for federal spending cuts by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) and their actual response to its practical consequences.

    Republicans doubtlessly like the optics of Musk taking out his chainsaw to slice government. A March 2025 CNN poll, for example, revealed that 75% of Republicans approve of Musk, compared to just 6% of Democrats. Additionally, 73% of Republicans even think Doge cuts won’t go far enough in rooting out “waste, fraud, and abuse” in government.

    However, that enthusiasm seems to fade when specific programmes are on the chopping block. As Republican strategist Brian Seitchik puts it: “There is certainly a disconnect right now between the theory of Doge, the cutting of fat in government … and what is seemingly a blowtorch as opposed to a scalpel approach to solving these problems.”

    Cuts to the federal workforce are emerging as perhaps the most contentious issue. These jobs are disproportionately concentrated in Washington DC. But in terms of total numbers, most are scattered across the country. That includes Republican states that Trump carried in last November’s election.

    Eliminating these jobs is having an impact that many Trump voters didn’t anticipate. Some may soon be showing buyer’s remorse with Trump. It is worth noting that around 81% of Republicans rated jobs and the economy as a very important issue, compared to 73% of Democrats, in a March poll from the Economist/YouGov.

    The political downside of job cuts has been made worse by an administration that can often seem numb to their impact. Recently, new video footage was unearthed of current Office of Management and Budget head Russ Vought saying in 2023 that he wanted civil servants to be “traumatically affected”.

    Despite all of Doge’s relentless efforts, US federal spending still hit a new high last month – US$603 billion (£467 billion). Without touching health service and senior citizen entitlements like Social Security and Medicare, it will be hard for the White House to significantly reduce national debt.

    High prices also continue to anger Trumpland. Trump vowed in the campaign: “You just watch – they’ll come down, and they’ll come down fast.” With inflation, Trump can scapegoat former president Joe Biden for a period. But that only lasts so long.

    Job cuts don’t just affect Democratic states.

    The problem for the White House is that it’s hard to imagine two more inflationary policies than those offered by Trump: tariffs, which pass higher prices onto consumers; and mass deportations, which constrict the labour supply and drive up the price of goods.

    Trump’s base is notoriously loyal. But swing voters who backed Trump could be in for a rude awakening if they expected Trump to revitalise American manufacturing and slash the price of eggs and Big Macs. If Trump’s approval ratings start to slide, some Republicans in Congress may also give him less than their full-throated support.

    Discontented Democrats

    Republicans aren’t the only ones with a problem from their own flank. According to polling by CNN, the Democratic party’s approval rating is just 29%, an all-time low. Among Democrats, some frustration stems from the direction in which Trump is taking the country, but much of it is about the Democratic party’s inability to counter him.

    Consider Trump’s speech before a joint session of Congress a couple weeks ago, where Democrats looked clumsy (and shrill) in their response. Representative Al Green was even censured for disrupting Trump’s address, including by 10 of his Democratic colleagues.

    Consider also the recent spending bill, when Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer broke with his party to keep the federal government open. Fellow Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called the move a “huge slap in the face,” while even Schumer’s longtime political partner and former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called him out for caving.

    Many Democratic voters view Democratic party leadership as feckless, as weak, and, in short, as losing. That’s hard to dispute that when Republicans have control of the White House, Congress, and for all intents and purposes, the Supreme Court.

    Calls for “fighting harder” ring hollow unless they’re backed with concrete action. Some pushback can come from states and localities. But what Democratic voters may be looking for is a common message. Half the party wants full-on resistance to Trump. Half doesn’t.

    What Democrats do next

    Coming out of November’s election, the autopsy reports haven’t moved the party in a consistent, constructive direction. For example, Democratic strategist James Carville says that his party should simply “roll over and play dead,” letting Republicans self-combust and making the American people long for Democratic governance. Others, like Ocasio-Cortez, are spoiling for a fight with Trump.

    Past patterns in election cycles would suggest that Democrats will take back at least one chamber of Congress in the 2026 midterms. But before they can, Democrats must heal splits between moderates and progressives, and address the backlash against “wokeism”, which is fading even faster than it emerged.

    Things look dire for Democrats now. Still, some historical context is instructive. 2004 was also a devastating loss for Democrats, when presidential candidate John Kerry lost to incumbent George W. Bush. Yet in 2008, Barack Obama ushered in a new era of Democratic governance. Politics has a way of self-correcting when the party in power over-interprets its mandate.

    Thomas Gift does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Trump’s job cuts are causing Republican angst as all parties face backlash – https://theconversation.com/trumps-job-cuts-are-causing-republican-angst-as-all-parties-face-backlash-252940

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Psychopaths experience pain differently, even when their bodies say otherwise

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sophie Alshukri, PhD Candidate in Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University

    Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock

    Psychopathy has long been associated with murderers, notorious criminals, and the griping true crime stories that dominate Netflix documentaries. But our recent research is showing they have a complex relationship with pain which may in part be responsible for their lack of empathy.

    Psychopathic traits are on a spectrum. We all have levels somewhere on this scale. To be deemed a “psychopath” by some medical professionals, though, you would need to sit on the higher end of the spectrum.

    Typically, people who are higher on the psychopathic traits spectrum show greater pain tolerance. And this is usually reflected in their physiology. For instance, in a 2022 study people higher in psychopathic traits showed lower brain activity with pressure pain.

    When we conducted our recent research on pain and people with different levels of psychopathy, our results surprised us. Participants with high levels of psychopathy seemed to process pain differently to people low in psychopathy.

    We applied pressure pain to our participants using a device that gently pressed a small circular probe onto the participant’s fingernail using compressed air. We measured their reactions from their sweat responses.

    This is called skin conductance response (SCR), and is activated in times of “fight or flight”, or even when we need to pay attention. And this normally increases sweat production. That’s what we used to measure participants’ response to pain and empathy in our experiment.

    Before our experiment began, we slowly increased the levels of pressure that participants felt until they told us they had reached their pain threshold (the most pain they could bear). The low and high psychopathy groups chose similar levels of pressure for their pain threshold.

    Next, we delivered varying levels of pressure (with the highest being each participant’s pain threshold) to ensure participants did not become used to the stimulations. Following each stimulation, participants were asked to rate how much pain they felt using a self-report measure ranging from 0-100.

    We found that participants higher in psychopathy reported feeling less pain than participants who were lower in psychopathy. The high psychopathy group even rated their own pain thresholds as less painful than the low psychopathy group (on the 0-100 scale). However, their SCRs were the same as those lower in psychopathy.

    So, what does this mean?

    It suggests that people higher in psychopathy interpret pain differently. Perhaps this explains why psychopathy relates to greater risk-taking and increased levels of violence or aggression towards others – they do not recognise feelings of pain in the same way as other people.

    Psychopaths may not recognise pain in the same way as others.
    Ground Picture/Shutterstock

    Usually, psychopathy relates to lower levels of physiological responses in threatening situations because they don’t associate pain with fear or punishment.

    The results of our study suggest that the difference in pain perception between high and low psychopathic people may be psychological rather than physiological. This could explain why there were differences in self-reports, but not in sweat responses.

    We don’t know whether they are pretending to feel pain or are less connected to their body’s physiology. But a 2019 study on children suggests those high in psychopathic traits may engage in extreme coping when scared. For instance, those children showed blunted emotional responses, disengagement or risky behaviour to cope with the stress.

    What about empathy for other people’s pain?

    We also tested our participants’ responses to other people’s pain by showing them images, such as a hand trapped in a door or a bare foot stepping on glass. Previous research has shown that people higher in psychopathy show reduced levels of physiological arousal to other people’s distress.

    For example, a 2015 study found people higher in psychopathy demonstrated lower levels of brain activity when seeing other people in painful situations. In our study, we found that people higher in psychopathy not only reported feeling less empathy but also showed lower sweat responses when viewing other people’s pain.

    This lower SCR has also been found in male prisoners with psychopathic traits. And it typically indicates less attention or focus on other people’s pain.

    Our study shows that a lack of empathy for others may not be a conscious choice. Our recent systematic review, where we looked at eight previous studies on psychopathy and pain perception, also helped to corroborate these findings, showing that psychopathy links to lower levels of brain activity in response to other people’s pain.

    Research has shown that lower levels of empathy for other people can be influenced by a higher tolerance for pain. If someone does not understand the feelings of pain the same way as other people, they probably don’t understand the pain that other people may be experiencing.

    Also, a 2020 review showed that the brain networks used in processing pain are also used to process empathy. This could mean that if people higher in psychopathy don’t feel as much pain themselves, their perceptions of other people’s pain could also be reduced via this shared network.

    Just because you show higher psychopathic traits does not necessarily mean you are going to be the lead character of your own true crime documentary, though. In fact, recent research, including a 2022 study, noted psychopathic traits can be positive and help people regulate their emotions.

    Surgeons and other medical professionals show high levels of psychopathic traits, particularly the stress immunity part of the personality trait.

    Perhaps this is what allows medical professionals high in psychopathic traits to stay calm under pressure, allowing them to make quick, rational decisions without being overwhelmed by stress.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Psychopaths experience pain differently, even when their bodies say otherwise – https://theconversation.com/psychopaths-experience-pain-differently-even-when-their-bodies-say-otherwise-251529

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The paradox of weight loss: why losing pounds may not always lead to better health

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Barbara Pierscionek, Professor and Deputy Dean, Research and Innovation, Anglia Ruskin University

    Jacob Lund/Shutterstock

    One of the lasting memories from my teenage years is what I now recognise as an obsession with weight control. Thin was in, and magazines promoted a variety of diets, each claiming effectiveness, often accompanied by images of beautiful, slim models. Not much has changed.

    Diets, intermittent fasting, weight-loss surgery, and more recently, weight-loss injections continue to be marketed as solutions for shedding pounds. Achieving a healthy weight is widely regarded as essential for overall wellbeing.

    Many studies have explored the relationship between weight changes and mortality, as well as mortality in obese people with heart disease. These studies often suggest that excessive weight is unhealthy and that people with obesity and heart disease should lose weight.

    However, findings from a recent study, of which I was a co-author, challenge this assumption. Our research indicates that significant weight loss – greater than 10kg – can actually increase the risk of early death in obese people with cardiovascular disease.

    This study was based on data from over 8,000 participants in the UK Biobank, a comprehensive resource for medical research that includes genetic data.

    While it’s known that rapid weight loss can signal underlying health issues and lead to serious complications, the weight changes in our study were observed over an average of nine years, meaning for some participants, these changes were relatively quick.

    This creates a paradox. While both obesity and cardiovascular disease are known to increase the risk of early death, in obese people with cardiovascular disease, weight loss – intended to improve health – can have the opposite effect.

    The relationship between body weight and illness is complex. Though obesity contributes to cardiovascular problems, studies have also shown an increased risk of early death in those with chronic heart failure who are lean, and in people with coronary artery disease whose weight fluctuates.

    Obesity rates are rising, but simply focusing on weight loss may not be the answer.

    Variability in weight loss

    For weight loss to be effective, we must consider the diverse factors contributing to weight gain, which vary from person to person. Genetics play a significant role in appetite and metabolism, and they can also influence lifestyle factors like overeating, inadequate exercise and poor dietary choices that lead to obesity.

    In our study, my colleagues and I couldn’t account for all the factors behind the participants’ obesity or the methods they used to lose weight. This means we can’t definitively determine which weight-loss strategies – whether in terms of duration, diet or physical activity – pose the greatest risks.

    The conventional approach to healthy weight – using body mass index (BMI) – may not apply to everyone. BMI is increasingly recognised as having limitations. Some people may tolerate higher weights without adverse health effects. The real question isn’t how quickly weight should be lost, but how quickly it should be lost for each person.

    Given the current evidence, we cannot accurately determine an ideal weight range that’s universally beneficial for health. However, intriguing patterns are emerging from various countries.

    For instance, Tonga has a high rate of obesity, yet it experiences significantly lower rates of heart-disease-related deaths than many European countries where obesity is less prevalent. Tonga also reports lower levels of alcohol consumption and suicide than most European nations.

    Health encompasses both physical and mental wellbeing. Shifting the focus to holistic wellbeing and happiness may offer more lasting health benefits. Treating obesity requires a comprehensive approach, addressing all underlying factors contributing to the condition.

    Barbara Pierscionek does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. The paradox of weight loss: why losing pounds may not always lead to better health – https://theconversation.com/the-paradox-of-weight-loss-why-losing-pounds-may-not-always-lead-to-better-health-252397

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: After months of Trump’s shock tactics, whistleblower groups are pushing back against attacks on workers’ rights

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Kate Kenny, Professor of Business and Society, University of Galway

    Julio Javier Vargas/Shutterstock

    In the US, under president Donald Trump, rapid assaults on civil servants’ rights, including their rights to speak out about wrongdoing, are increasingly part of the administration’s play for power. Shock tactics tend to work when the speed leaves observers too stunned to act.

    But countering the paralysis, whistleblower supporters are organising. Civil society groups are collaborating to shore up workers’ rights, challenge threats in the courts, and inform the public why it’s important to protect whistleblowers. Their cool-headed approach shows what it takes to work together to preserve democratic freedoms.

    Since January 2025, the Trump administration has assaulted federal workers’ rights including whistleblowing protections. Key personnel are being fired, with thousands of other civil servants under threat of being reclassified as “at-will” workers who can be sacked at any time for any reason.

    But the US needs whistleblower rights. In the past ten years alone, US government workers speaking out have protected citizens from a long list of ills. This includes food contamination, health risks, airline dangers and climate censorship. And they have called out managers for fraud and corruption.

    Recent UK research demonstrates how listening to whistleblowers in some cases – including the Post Office scandal and the collapse of contractor Carillion – would have saved taxpayers nearly £400 million.

    Functioning government bureaucracies, staffed by well-qualified, professional and independent civil servants, curtail attempts by politicians to control the state.

    In the US, long-standing structures like the Pendleton Act of 1883 and the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, were put in place to ensure this. These laws insist government workers are hired and fired on the basis of skill and ability, not their political views. New employees take an oath of loyalty to the US constitution, not to the president.

    Whistleblower protection is a critical part of ensuring this independence, because it enables civil servants to challenge abuses of power. But whistleblowers can only call out wrongdoing if they are protected from reprisal. Right now, these protections are under threat.

    Shock and awe

    Critics of the new US administration know all this. But the speed of change seems overwhelming. And the will to resist depletes, as people struggle to make sense of the constant disruption.

    What to do with widely reported shows of anti-democratic aggression, like the recent appearance of senior Trump adviser Elon Musk on stage with a red chainsaw, shouting about a “chainsaw for bureaucracy”?

    This is exactly the kind of chaotic, performative scene that stokes fascist passions, but leaves critics frozen.

    Elon Musk’s chainsaw stunt was made famous by Argentinian president Javier Milei, who was looking on as Musk played to the gallery.
    Joshua Sukoff/Shutterstock

    Connecting such moves with Trump’s aggression against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes and trans citizens, US philosopher Judith Butler has warned that people can be stunned into inaction by increasingly shocking events. They stop seeing how they are connected.

    What links these events, fundamentally, is contempt for ordinary US citizens’ rights and for constitutional democracy. As Butler also says, it’s important that citizens are not left immobilised by the outrage.

    To counter the chaos, cool heads are needed. Supporters of whistleblower rights are pushing back. With partners, the nonprofit whistleblower organisation Government Accountability Project is suing Trump over the unconstitutional roll-back of federal worker protections. And civil society groups successfully challenged February’s firing of the chief of the federal whistleblowing agency.

    This kind of whistleblower activism has happened before in other parts of the world. In Europe, NGOs monitor countries’ adoption of the new EU whistleblower protection law.

    Organisations like the Whistleblowing International Network and the UNCAC coalition support civil society groups in countries around the world with new but fragile whistleblower protection systems introduced to support public trust and democratic accountability. These partnerships harness public opinion through the media and lobby for change. They come together in regular online events and forums to sustain momentum.

    These coalitions of whistleblower activists have a history of working together, celebrating small wins and publicising each other’s work.

    As my recent book details, this collective activism is not easy. These organisations operate on limited funding. And in the face of disinformation on social media, defending truth and facts can be challenging. Yet as I found, strategising and collaborating can help counter aggressive opposition.

    A shared commitment to democratic rights is what keeps coalitions of whistleblower activists going – they demonstrate passions for equality and the right to live without fear.

    Trump is working to remake the federal government in the service of his political agenda. It is a classic move made by “strongman” leaders. They seize control of government bureaucracy in order to reward elite supporters, give favours and jobs to insiders, and weaken oversight on corruption.

    Attacking government bureaucracy has been a first step in the power grab by authoritarian leaders worldwide, from Hungary to Benin, Turkey and Venezuela.

    Working with his largest election donor Elon Musk, who already owns businesses benefiting from government contracts, Trump’s aggressive overhaul of the federal government radically dilutes the potential for dissenting workers to speak out in protest.

    It is tempting to remain paralysed in the face of daily attempts to roll back workers’ rights. But through their dedication, mutual support and celebration of even small wins, international collectives of whistleblower activists remind us that there is a way forward and why it’s vital to keep going.

    Kate Kenny has in the past and at different times engaged in research funded by organizations including: the EU Commission, ESRC UK, the British Academy, Harvard University, Science Foundation Ireland and Leverhulme Trust.

    – ref. After months of Trump’s shock tactics, whistleblower groups are pushing back against attacks on workers’ rights – https://theconversation.com/after-months-of-trumps-shock-tactics-whistleblower-groups-are-pushing-back-against-attacks-on-workers-rights-252861

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why the Tesla backlash could help electric cars finally go mainstream

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Hannah Budnitz, Research Associate in Urban Mobility, Transport Studies Unit, University of Oxford

    Elon Musk’s controversial political views and actions have sparked an exodus from X (formerly Twitter), his social media platform, and mass protests against his car company, Tesla. Dealerships in the US and beyond have experienced peaceful protests and occasional vandalism, while sales are down almost everywhere and the company has lost almost half its value in two months.

    Ironically, these political controversies may broaden the mass market appeal of electric vehicles. This is an industry that needs to go beyond the early-adopter tech bros – and now might be the moment.

    In 2010, when Tesla became the first American carmaker to go public since Ford in 1956, fully electric cars were still a niche technology. The Nissan Leaf was launched that same year, but it was still limited to shorter trips in cities. Other big carmakers weren’t yet taking electric seriously, and the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) industry was just starting to gear up.

    In 2013, when the International Energy Agency (IEA) produced its first Global EV Outlook report, there were less than 60,000 on the road worldwide. A decade later, almost the same number of EVs are sold every day.

    Tesla’s competition was initially just little urban runarounds like this 2010 Nissan Leaf.
    Dong liu / Shutterstock

    So, there is plenty of evidence that Tesla had a leading role in making EVs a “winning technology” – something the traditional major carmakers felt compelled to compete with. Governments around the world also got on board.

    Not made for the mainstream

    In fact, Tesla’s approach to making electric cars mainstream was to not make them for the mainstream. Its marketing strategy was to sell direct to customers who not only bought into the environmental credentials but the hi-tech glamour – and didn’t mind the price tag.

    In other words, Tesla targeted “early adopters” which, in the case of electric cars, meant wealthy men. Study after study shows these early adopters in North America and Europe were skewed towards men and those with higher incomes.

    Although these studies often measured income and gender separately, research I published with colleagues indicated it was having both characteristics – being both a man and wealthy – that made someone more likely to be an EV owner, or more likely to say their next car would probably be electric.

    Out of our representative sample of nearly 2,000 UK drivers, wealthy men were also more likely to agree that their social circle expected them to switch.

    We did not find the same results among women, no matter their income level, nor low-income men. This despite the fact that women were significantly more likely to value protecting the environment and to feel an obligation to drive an electric car (if they were first convinced it would reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality).

    This points to another key implication of our research. To support mass adoption, drivers need to be confident that EVs can deliver the environmental benefits they promise, as well as being more comfortable and cheaper to run than conventional cars.

    To gain this confidence, drivers – no matter who they are – want to hear consistent messaging from a trusted source that highlights the benefits, not just the costs.

    However, as we found in our project Inclusive Transition to Electric Mobility, drivers and policymakers alike perceive EVs as unaffordable. Some research participants even mentioned Tesla by name when giving an example of how making the switch is beyond the means of people like them.

    Cheaper EVs need new messaging

    Although Tesla sells mass-produced models and slashed its prices around the world last year, its cars are still expensive (in the UK, they start at about £40,000). The company’s reputation and brand is linked not only to the tech-bro image of Silicon Valley, but with elitism and inequity.

    However, the reputation of EVs in general need not be. Unlike ten years ago, this is a technology with momentum among many manufacturers, and consumers have plenty of new, cheaper models to choose from, as well as a growing second-hand market. The IEA’s latest report suggests EVs are finally becoming a mass-market product.

    Tesla is facing stiff competition from cheaper rivals such as Chinese firm BYD.
    i viewfinder / Shutterstock

    As electric cars become more affordable in real terms, the messaging needs to be about environmental benefit rather than futuristic technology. It needs to emphasise long-term affordability of use as well as purchase. EVs need to be seen as practical and safe – and drivers need to hear these messages from trusted sources.

    My research highlighted how family, friends, colleagues and neighbours could be this source of trusted information. Early adopters I interviewed described the many personal, social interactions involved in the practicalities of parking and charging their cars – such as coordinating workplace charging so no one is caught short, and sharing tips on the best tariff for home charging. Some have effectively become local ambassadors for EVs.

    I’m also investigating how communities coming together around EVs might lead to more car sharing. This could maximise the environmental benefits of the transition, since reducing the number of cars on the road is as important as ensuring cars switch from petrol to electric.

    There is little doubt about the damage Musk’s political approach has done to Tesla’s image, although it is not the sole cause of the company’s current troubles.

    Meanwhile, the transition to electric personal mobility is well underway around the world. Tesla’s troubles won’t stop this – but they can give the car industry an opportunity to make the messaging around electric vehicles more diverse, equitable and inclusive for the mass market.

    Hannah Budnitz does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Why the Tesla backlash could help electric cars finally go mainstream – https://theconversation.com/why-the-tesla-backlash-could-help-electric-cars-finally-go-mainstream-252963

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Three graphs that show what’s happening with Donald Trump’s popularity

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Paul Whiteley, Professor, Department of Government, University of Essex

    Donald Trump started out with more Americans approving than disapproving of his performance just after inauguration day on January 20 , and this continued into February. By early March, his ratings had turned a little bit negative, but not by much, and it has stayed that way. As of March 20, 48% of Americans approved of his job performance so far, while 49% disapproved.

    The daily average of polls measuring approval/disapproval ratings for the job Trump is doing appears in the chart below. They cover the period from February 20 to March 20.

    Approval and disapproval ratings for Trump’s performance:

    These aggregate ratings are interesting, but they disguise the political divide which is revealed when we drill down into the details. This can be done using an Economist/YouGov poll completed on March 18, for instance.

    This reveals how polarised American public opinion has become when it comes to judging the president. Around 6% of respondents who identified themselves as Democrats approved of his performance, while 93% of them disapproved. Those who identified as Republican were almost the exact opposite, with 90% approving and 7% disapproving.

    One problem in analysing these statistics is that only 29% of the sample interviewed were Republicans, compared with 34% Democrats. The pollsters do their best to get a representative sample of the US electorate and it’s worth noting that there are currently more registered Democrats in the US than there are Republicans.

    Interestingly, the American National Election Study survey conducted just before the presidential election last year showed that only 11.6% of Americans were supporters of the Maga movement. This highly respected study, which has been carried out over the past 75 years as a national resource, would suggest that Maga supporters are noisy, but fewer in number than some people might realise.

    What do independents think?

    Around 37% of those interviewed for the Economist poll described themselves as independents. In their case 37% of them approved of his performance and 54% disapproved. Trump may have a very strong following among Republicans, but they are less than one-third of the electorate.

    A quick calculation looking at support among Democrats, Republicans and independents in proportion to their size in the electorate suggests that 42% of Americans have a favourable view of his performance, while 54% have an unfavourable view.

    If we look at the social backgrounds of respondents in the survey there is not much difference between the young and the old, or different income groups in their attitudes to the president’s performance. But there is a large gender gap with 53% of men, but only 39% of women, approving. Similarly, while 53% of whites approved, only 24% of blacks and 31% of Hispanics did so. Finally, 7% of ideological liberals approved of Trump’s job performance, compared with 81% of conservatives and 44% of moderates. Overall, partisanship and ideology completely dominate the picture when it comes to judging Trump’s record.

    How important is the economy?

    US politics is in turmoil with large federal jobs losses and significant changes, such as tariffs on Canadian goods, being announced by the new administration, so there are a lot of factors at work which can explain attitudes to Trump. In the 2024 presidential election the economy played a key role in explaining how people voted, and it is always an important issue in elections.

    Given that, it is interesting to look at one of the key measures of the voter’s attitudes to the economy, namely consumer confidence. This has been measured by researchers at the University of Michigan for many decades using a series of surveys conducted every month.

    US consumer sentiment scale March 2024 to March 2025:

    The chart shows scores on the Index of Consumer Sentiment from March of last year until March this year. A high score means Americans are confident about the state of their economy and a low score the opposite. Confidence has plunged from a rating of 79.4 a year ago to 57.9 now. It is notable that, as recently as December 2024, it stood at 74.0, but after the inauguration of Trump it started to rapidly decline. Americans are getting increasingly worried about the state of their economy, along with the rest of the world.

    The cause is not hard to discern: the imposition of tariffs, a fall in the stock market, the threat of inflation, the administration’s sympathy towards Vladimir Putin and its threats to allies such as Canada and Greenland over their territorial integrity. These issues are all adding up to a self-imposed economic crisis.

    But what are the implication of this for presidential approval ratings? The chart below shows the relationship between consumer confidence and presidential approval over a period of nearly 50 years. There is a moderately strong relationship between the two series (correlation = 0.40). When consumers are optimistic, they approve of the president’s performance, and when they are pessimistic, they disapprove.

    Presidential approval and consumer confidence 1978-2025:

    Overall, the data suggests that Trump should not be confident of his approval ratings across the US, if you look at people across all political affiliations and who vote. Along with a looming economic crisis, this could lead to a rapid loss of support for the president and the Republicans in the near future.

    Paul Whiteley does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Three graphs that show what’s happening with Donald Trump’s popularity – https://theconversation.com/three-graphs-that-show-whats-happening-with-donald-trumps-popularity-252857

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Rodgers announces strategic initiatives to drive KZN economic growth, job creation

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    KwaZulu-Natal Finance MEC, Francois Rodgers, has announced a number of strategic initiatives aimed at boosting the province’s economic growth, creating jobs, and stabilising the cost of living.

    Rodgers highlighted some of the initiatives, when he was tabling the province’s R158.478 billion budget for the 2025/2026 financial year, on Tuesday.

    In his address, Rodgers highlighted the positive signs of economic recovery, pointing to key indicators, including an increase in the province’s equitable share and additional allocations in conditional grants.

    He also noted the progress being made through the Provincial Financial Recovery Plan.

    “What is required now is discipline with a sharp focus on the end objective, growth in our economy, job creation, and stabilising and reducing the cost of living,” Rodgers said.

    Initiatives to strengthen financial discipline

    The MEC said the provincial Treasury is committed to perform financial oversight and monitor provincial expenditure, with a view to prevent non-essential government activities.

    He added that efforts are underway to identify new streams of revenue for the provincial fiscus.

    Another key initiative is the adoption of a cost-containment instruction by the Executive Council, which aims to sustain KZN’s ability to meet its needs, “while protecting its future.”

    “Cutting the nice to haves to protect the must haves. One such example is [council] agreement to do away with rental vehicles, with procurement for vehicles, in line with National Treasury guidelines.

    “When the GPU (Government of Provincial Unity) took office, the province was projecting to over-spend in the region of R10 billion, [but] with strict control measures and compliance, we have now reduced this to R4.9 billion,” Rodgers highlighted.

    E-procurement tool

    To further improve financial efficiency, Rodgers announced that Treasury is awaiting approval for the acquisition and implementation of an e-procurement tool, a system designed to eliminate overcharging of goods and services during the Supply Chain Management (SCM) and tender processes.

    “This system will yield enormous savings for the province and reduce irregularities in the procurement process,” Rodgers said.

    The MEC said the provincial government is making great strides in achieving a balanced budget, noting that “it’s a painful process, but a process that needs to be sustained and supported.”

    Rodgers further announced that starting in April 2025, the provincial government will introduce departmental financial dashboards, which will reflect departments financial metrics, such as creditors, debtors, cash balances, and projected expenditure.

    He said these dashboards will assist members of the Executive Council and oversight committees with a clearer picture of the province’s financial health.

    Additionally, the provincial Treasury is exploring the establishment of an information centre, which will focus on “Operation Pay on Time” and assist with tender processes and supplying information on Public Private Partnerships (PPPs).

    “Going forward, I will continue, in my capacity as MEC, to regularly engage the Premier and the provincial executive on good financial practices. We will be consistent in our advocacy for efficient expenditure and the prioritisation of programmes aimed at alleviating poverty, inequality, unemployment, effective service delivery and building a sustainable economy,” the MEC said.

    Provincial budget highlights

    A large portion of the 2025/2026 provincial budged (79.9%), has been allocated to the three key social services departments, including Education, Health, and Social Development.

    The Education Department received the largest share of the budget, with R66 690 206 allocated, followed by Health with R56 211 801.

    Other allocations include:
    •    Transport allocated R13 827 066.
    •    Office of the Premier R817 875. 
    •    Provincial Legislature R850 796. 
    •    Agriculture and Rural Development R2 757 443. 
    •    Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs R3 606 998.
    •    Provincial Treasury R710 190. 
    •    Human Settlements R3 549 877.
    •    Community Safety and Liaison R275 716.
    •    Sport, Arts and Culture R1 598 141.
    •    Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs R1 931 153.
    •    Social Development R3 613 297. 
    •    Public Works and Infrastructure R2 037 490. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Colloquium to discuss developments in intellectual property

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Intellectual property and technology commercialisation will come under the spotlight at a colloquium that will be hosted by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic).

    Wednesday’s colloquium will be held under the theme: “Driving Innovation and Positioning Intellectual Property Commercialisation for a Better and Inclusive South Africa”.

    According to the Minister of the dtic, Parks Tau, the session will provide a platform to exchange ideas and experiences on addressing challenges hindering successful technology commercialisation, and what measures can be taken to address these challenges.

    He said the session, which the dtic will host in partnership with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), will focus on enhancing awareness and understanding of intellectual property (IP), technology management, and the commercialisation process. 

    Discussions will cover the advancement of new technologies and their impact on the IP landscape and the commercialisation of these innovations. 

    The session will also explore strategies for innovating, scaling, and commercialising more effectively during and after a pandemic.

    “The National System of Innovation stakeholders will exchange ideas and share experiences on overcoming challenges in intellectual property and technology commercialisation. The key focus areas include addressing barriers to successful commercialisation, improving access to venture capital funding, enhancing knowledge of equity structures, and creating effective market channels,” the Minister said.

    The session will bring together international and local expert speakers in the field of IP and technology commercialisation, including commercialisation specialists, IP Merchant Banks, venture capitalists, incubators and fund finders, among others.

    Significantly, the session will also see high school and tertiary students participating in order to instil an interest in IP. 

    “The learners will participate in an interactive session,, where they will be taken through the exciting journey of IP and technology development. 

    “This session will stimulate and harness a culture of innovation and creativity amongst South African school learners, build a future generation that will be ready and attuned to the skills needs of the 4IR [Fourth Industrial Revolution] and be a generation of job creators rather than job seekers,” Tau said.

    Some of the topics that will be discussed include technology development and commercialisation, intellectual property in successful commercialisation of products and services, and understanding IP rights and their role in technology transfer and economic growth.

    The colloquium will have exhibition stands for innovators to display their products and services.

    The exhibition will be used to showcase support offered by government to innovators through different funding instruments.

    The colloquium will get underway at the Heartfelt Arena in Pretoria from 9am. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Statement at Executive Session to Consider CMS Administrator Crapo Statement at Executive Session to Consider CMS Administrator

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at an executive session to consider the nomination of Dr. Mehmet Oz to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
    As prepared for delivery:
    “We meet today to consider favorably reporting the nomination of Dr. Mehmet Oz to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
    “As we have done with other nominees, the meeting this morning will provide members with the opportunity to make remarks on Dr. Oz’s nomination.  We will notify members of a time and location later today to conduct the vote. 
    “Dr. Oz has years of experience as an acclaimed physician and public health advocate.  His background makes him uniquely qualified to manage the intricacies of CMS.
    “At his hearing, Dr. Oz discussed his vision to ensure CMS provides Americans with access to superb care, especially our most vulnerable patients.  I look forward to working with him, if confirmed, to accomplish this goal. 
    “I was also encouraged to hear that he will focus on modernizing federal health care programs, work to fix our broken clinician payment system and will partner with Congress to achieve pharmaceutical benefit manager reform.
    “There is no doubt that Dr. Oz will work tirelessly to deliver much needed change at CMS.  I will be voting in favor of his nomination, and I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do the same.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Upholds Idahoans’ Second Amendment Rights

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.–In keeping with his longstanding support of the Second Amendment, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) announced his efforts so far in the 119th Congress to protect Idahoans’ access to the constitutional right to keep and bear arms.
    “Those seeking to strip away Second Amendment rights have sought every creative way possible to advance their agenda through legislation, regulation and litigation,” said Crapo.  “The majority of Americans are law-abiding citizens who own, possess, carry and use firearms in a lawful and peaceful fashion.  Their right to do so is enshrined in our Constitution. That right must not be abridged while we seek to prevent violence perpetrated by criminals.”
    Senator Crapo’s efforts to protect the Second Amendment in the 119th Congress so far include:
    Leading reintroduction of the Hearing Protection Act, which would reclassify suppressors to regulate them like a regular firearm;
    Co-sponsoring the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which would allow any person legally authorized to carry a concealed firearm in their home state to exercise that right in any other state that allows the practice;
    Co-sponsoring Senator Jim Risch’s (R-Idaho) Sporting Firearms Access Act, which would limit the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm and Explosives’ (ATF) ability to restrict firearm models from importation into the United States;
    Backing the Fair Access to Banking Act, which would prevent discrimination by banks and financial services providers against constitutionally-protected industries and law-abiding businesses, such as firearms manufacturers;
    Co-sponsoring the Financial Integrity and Regulation Management (FIRM) Act, which would remove “reputational risk” as a component of federal supervision, which has become a way to weaponize power against politically disfavored groups;
    Joining legislation to prohibit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service from banning the use of lead ammunition or tackle on public lands unless such action is supported by the best available science;
    Co-sponsoring Senator Risch’s No REGISTRY Act, which would require the ATF to delete all existing records of firearms transactions and allow federal firearms licensees to destroy firearm transaction records when they go out of business.
    Backing the ATF Transparency Act, which would require a transparent and speedy National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) process and create an appeals process for erroneous NICS denials;
    Co-sponsoring the FIND Act, which would prohibit companies with policies that discriminate against the firearm and ammunition industries from receiving federal contracts;
    Supporting the Traveler’s Gun Rights Act to allow military spouses and those without a fixed address (such as those who live full time in a recreational vehicle) to purchase handguns in the state where they are permanently stationed for duty or consistent with the P.O. Box listed on their driver’s license;
    Sending a letter to the ATF demanding it comply with President Trump’s Executive Order, Protecting Second Amendment Rights, in order to align the ATF’s rules and polities with the President’s strong support for the Second Amendment; and
    Signing a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce highlighting concerns with the Department’s Interim Final Rule finalized under the previous Administration that restricted firearms exports to certain countries.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Statement at SSA Commissioner Nomination Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
    Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at a hearing to consider the nomination of Frank Bisignano to be Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA).
    As prepared for delivery:
    “Today, we will consider the nomination of Frank Bisignano to be the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration. 
    “Mr. Bisignano, congratulations on your nomination, and welcome to you and your family.  Thank you for your willingness to serve and for your cooperation with this Committee throughout our rigorous vetting process. 
    “Both sides have generally agreed the Social Security Administration needs a confirmed Commissioner to address the ongoing challenges at the agency.  I commend President Trump for putting forward a Commissioner nominee so early in his Administration. 
    “Mr. Bisignano has more than 30 years of executive leadership experience at leading financial institutions.  He has brought a focus on innovation and operational excellence to his current role as Chief Executive Officer of Fiserv, a leader in payments and financial technology that is responsible for processing more than $2.5 trillion in payments daily. 
    “Mr. Bisignano, if confirmed, you will be responsible for leading an agency with a critical mission, and numerous operational and customer service challenges, as you will hear this morning.  Based on your background, I am confident you are up to the task. 
    “It is hard to overstate the importance of Social Security, which provides monthly benefits to millions of seniors, individuals with disabilities and their families.  The Social Security Administration has the responsibility of overseeing this important program, as well as the Supplemental Security Income program, assigning Social Security numbers and issuing Social Security cards, among other workloads. 
    “In carrying out these significant responsibilities, the Social Security Administration interacts with millions of customers each year, whether in-person, by phone or online.  The public expects the agency to provide responsive service and timely decisions on their claims.  However, the SSA faces many challenges in meeting these expectations. 
    “After years of implementation delays and the ultimate failure of its Next Generation Telephony Project, SSA has made some progress with its National 800 Number, including introducing a call back option.  However, much more is needed.  Callers to the National 800 Number who want to wait for a representative are still spending too long on hold and many still struggle to actually get through to a representative when they call. 
    “Americans also continue to wait too long for an initial disability decision, particularly in certain parts of the country.  SSA’s shift to an appointment-focused approach for field office visits underscores the need for SSA to make it easier for customers to schedule appointments online. 
    “The Trump Administration has been clear that it is focused on addressing waste, fraud and abuse across government agencies, and I applaud its efforts to maximize government productivity.  A Senate-confirmed Commissioner should be leading these efficiency efforts. 
    “Mr. Bisignano, if confirmed to serve as the next Commissioner of Social Security, this responsibility will fall to you.  I urge you take a thoughtful, measured and data-driven approach to evaluating policy and operational changes aimed at improving SSA’s efficiency and productivity.  If you need additional tools that require statutory changes, I urge you to bring those changes to this Committee and our House counterparts. 
    “Today’s hearing will provide an opportunity to hear more about your vision for the Social Security Administration and how we can work together to help ensure the SSA fulfills its critical mission. 
    “Thank you for your willingness to serve and congratulations again on your nomination, which I intend to support.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Decisions Adopted by eQ Plc’s Annual General Meeting

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    eQ Plc Stock Exchange Release
    25 March 2025, at 7.30 p.m.

    eQ Plc’s Annual General Meeting, held on Tuesday 25 March 2025 as a hybrid meeting in accordance with chapter 5, section 16, subsection 2 of the Finnish Limited Liability Companies Act (“AGM”), decided upon the following:

    Confirmation of the financial statements

    eQ Plc’s AGM confirmed the financial statement of the company, which included the group financial statements, the report by the Board of Directors and the auditor’s report for the financial year 2024.

    Decision in respect of the result shown on the balance sheet and the payment of dividend

    The AGM confirmed the proposal by the Board of Directors that a dividend of 0.66 euros per share be paid out. The dividend will be paid out in two separate installments. The first installment, EUR 0.33 per share shall be paid to those shareholders who are registered as shareholders in eQ Plc’s shareholder register maintained by Euroclear Finland Ltd on the record date of the dividend payment on 27 March 2025. The first installment of the dividend shall be paid on 3 April 2025. The second installment, EUR 0.33 per share shall be paid in October 2025 to those shareholders who are registered as shareholders in eQ Plc’s shareholder register maintained by Euroclear Finland Ltd on the record date of the divided payment. The Board shall decide the record date and the payment date of the second installment of the divided in its meeting in September 2025. It is contemplated that the record date of the second installment will be 7 October 2025 and that the payment date will be 14 October 2025. 

    Discharge from liability to the Board of Directors and the CEOs

    The AGM decided to grant discharge from liability to the Board of Directors and the CEOs for the financial year 1 January – 31 December 2024.

    Remuneration Report for Governing Bodies and Remuneration Policy for Governing Bodies

    The Annual General Meeting decided to adopt the Remuneration Report for Governing Bodies and the Remuneration Policy for Governing Bodies.

    The remuneration of the members of the Board, the number of Board members and appointment of Board members

    The AGM decided that the members of the Board would receive remuneration as follows: the Chair of the Board will receive 5,000 euros, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors will receive 4,000 euros and the Board members will receive 3,000 euros per month. In addition, a compensation of 750 euros per meeting will be paid for all the Board members for each attended Board meeting and travel and lodging costs will be compensated in accordance with the company’s expense policy.

    According to the decision of the AGM, the Board consists of six members. Päivi Arminen, Nicolas Berner, Georg Ehrnrooth, Janne Larma and Tomas von Rettig were re-elected as members to the Board of Directors and Caroline Bertlin was elected as a new member to the Board. The term of office of the Board members ends at the close of the next Annual General Meeting. The Board appointed Georg Ehrnrooth as Chair of the Board in its meeting held immediately after the AGM.

    Auditor and sustainability auditor and their remuneration

    The AGM decided to elect Authorized Public Accountants KPMG Oy Ab as auditor and as sustainability auditor of the company. The auditor and sustainability auditor with main responsibility, named by KPMG Oy Ab is Tuomas Ilveskoski, APA, Authorized Sustainability Auditor. It was decided to compensate the auditor and the sustainability auditor according to their invoices approved by eQ Plc.

    Establishment of a Shareholders’ Nomination Board

    The AGM decided to establish a Shareholders’ Nomination Board whose task is to prepare proposals concerning the number of members of the Board of Directors and the Board’s composition and remuneration to the General Meeting. The Shareholders’ Nomination Board comprises of four members and four largest shareholders of the Company may each appoint a member.

    The AGM decided to adopt the Charter for the Shareholders’ Nomination Board.

    Authorising the Board of Directors to decide on the issuance of shares as well as the issuance of special rights entitling to shares

    The AGM authorised the Board of Directors to decide on a share issue or share issues and/or the issuance of special rights entitling to shares referred to in Chapter 10 Section 1 of the Companies Act, comprising a maximum total of 3,500,000 new shares. The amount of the authorisation corresponds to approximately 8.45 per cent of all shares in the Company at the date of the notice of the AGM.

    The authorisation is to be used in order to finance or carry out potential acquisitions or other business transactions, to strengthen the balance sheet and the financial position of the Company, to fulfill Company’s incentive schemes or to any other purposes decided by the Board. 50 per cent of the shares or special rights entitling to shares issued on the basis of the authorisation may be used to implement incentive schemes or otherwise for remuneration. Based on the authorisation, the Board decides on all other matters related to the issuance of shares and special rights entitling to shares referred to in Chapter 10 Section 1 of the Companies Act, including the recipients of the shares or the special rights entitling to shares and the amount of the consideration to be paid. Therefore, based on the authorisation, shares or special rights entitling to shares may also be issued directed i.e. in deviation of the shareholders pre-emptive rights as described in the Companies Act. A share issue may also be executed without payment in accordance with the preconditions set out in the Companies Act.
    The authorisation cancels all previous authorisations to decide on the issuance of shares as well as the issuance of special rights entitling to shares and is effective until the next Annual General Meeting, however no more than 18 months.

       
    Helsinki, 25 March 2025

    eQ Plc

    Board of Directors

    Additional information: Juha Surve, Group General Counsel, tel. +358 9 6817 8733

    Distribution: Nasdaq Helsinki, www.eQ.fi

    eQ Group is a Finnish group of companies specialising in asset management and corporate finance business. eQ Asset Management offers a wide range of asset management services (including private equity funds and real estate asset management) for institutions and individuals. The assets managed by the Group total approximately EUR 13.4 billion. Advium Corporate Finance, which is part of the Group, offers services related to mergers and acquisitions, real estate transactions and equity capital markets.

    More information about the Group is available on our website at www.eQ.fi.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Atlantic American Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Year End Results for 2024; Declares Annual Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ATLANTA, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Atlantic American Corporation (Nasdaq- AAME) today reported net income of $0.4 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, for the three month period ended December 31, 2024, compared to net loss of $2.2 million, or $(0.11) per diluted share, for the three month period ended December 31, 2023. The Company had net loss of $4.3 million, or $(0.23) per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to net loss of $0.2 million, or $(0.03) per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase in net income for the three month period ended December 31, 2024 was primarily the result of favorable loss experience in the Company’s life and health operations due to a decrease in incurred losses, predominantly in the group life and Medicare supplement lines of business. The increase in net loss for the year ended December 31, 2024 was primarily due to unfavorable loss experience in the Company’s property and casualty operations due to the frequency and severity of claims in the automobile liability line of business, compared to the prior year.

    Commenting on the results, Hilton H. Howell, Jr., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We are thrilled to report exceptional new sales in our Medicare supplement business during the fourth quarter annual enrollment period, with strong momentum carrying into the new year. Although rising costs in the commercial automobile market have affected profitability, we are taking steps to improve rates for that line of business. Additionally, in alignment with our continued commitment to enhancing shareholder value, the Board of Directors has approved the Company’s annual dividend of $0.02 per share. This dividend will be payable on April 23, 2025, to shareholders of record as of April 9, 2025.”

    Atlantic American Corporation is an insurance holding company involved through its subsidiary companies in specialty markets of the life, health, and property and casualty insurance industries. Its principal insurance subsidiaries are American Southern Insurance Company, American Safety Insurance Company, Bankers Fidelity Life Insurance Company, Bankers Fidelity Assurance Company and Atlantic Capital Life Assurance Company.

    Note regarding non-GAAP financial measure: Atlantic American Corporation presents its consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). However, from time to time, the Company may present, in its public statements, press releases and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, non-GAAP financial measures such as operating income (loss). We define operating income (loss) as net income (loss) excluding: (i) income tax expense (benefit); (ii) realized investment (gains) losses, net; and (iii) unrealized (gains) losses on equity securities, net. Management believes operating income (loss) is a useful metric for investors, potential investors, securities analysts and others because it isolates the “core” operating results of the Company before considering certain items that are either beyond the control of management (such as income tax expense (benefit), which is subject to timing, regulatory and rate changes depending on the timing of the associated revenues and expenses) or are not expected to regularly impact the Company’s operating results (such as any realized and unrealized investment gains (losses), which are not a part of the Company’s primary operations and are, to a limited extent, subject to discretion in terms of timing of realization). The financial data attached includes a reconciliation of operating income (loss) to net income (loss), the most comparable GAAP financial measure. The Company’s definition of operating income (loss) may differ from similarly titled financial measures used by others. This non-GAAP financial measure should be considered supplemental to, and not a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.

    Note regarding forward-looking statements: Except for historical information contained herein, this press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements due to a number of factors and risks, including, among others: the effects of macroeconomic conditions and general economic uncertainty; unexpected developments in the health care or insurance industries affecting providers or individuals, including the cost or availability of services, or the tax consequences related thereto; disruption to the financial markets; unanticipated increases in the rate, number and amounts of claims outstanding; our ability to remediate the identified material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting; the level of performance of reinsurance companies under reinsurance contracts and the availability, pricing and adequacy of reinsurance to protect the Company against losses; changes in the stock markets, interest rates or other financial markets, including the potential effect on the Company’s statutory capital levels; the uncertain effect on the Company of regulatory and market-driven changes in practices relating to the payment of incentive compensation to brokers, agents and other producers; the potential impact of public health emergencies; the incidence and severity of catastrophes, both natural and man-made; the possible occurrence of terrorist attacks; stronger than anticipated competitive activity; unfavorable judicial or legislative developments; the potential effect of regulatory developments, including those which could increase the Company’s business costs and required capital levels; the Company’s ability to distribute its products through distribution channels, both current and future; the uncertain effect of emerging claim and coverage issues; the effect of assessments and other surcharges for guaranty funds and other mandatory pooling arrangements; information technology system failures or network disruptions; risks related to cybersecurity matters, such as breaches of our computer network or those of other parties or the loss of or unauthorized access to the data we maintain; and those other risks and uncertainties detailed in statements and reports that the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result, undue reliance should not be placed upon forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements as a result of subsequent developments, changes in underlying assumptions or facts or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

         
    For further information contact:    
    J. Ross Franklin   Hilton H. Howell, Jr.
    Chief Financial Officer   Chairman, President & CEO
    Atlantic American Corporation   Atlantic American Corporation
    404-266-5580   404-266-5505
         
    Atlantic American Corporation
    Financial Data
           
      Three Months Ended   Twelve Months Ended
      December 31,   December 31,
    (Unaudited; In thousands, except per share data)   2024       2023       2024       2023  
    Insurance premiums              
    Life and health $ 29,351     $ 26,138     $ 111,042     $ 110,382  
    Property and casualty   16,053       16,781       67,689       68,443  
    Insurance premiums, net   45,404       42,919       178,731       178,825  
                   
    Net investment income   2,342       2,633       9,791       10,058  
    Realized investment gains, net   1,193       –       1,210       70  
    Unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities, net   101       1,190       (1,516 )     (2,177 )
    Other income   3       3       11       17  
                   
    Total revenue   49,043       46,745       188,227       186,793  
                   
    Insurance benefits and losses incurred              
    Life and health   16,597       22,931       70,064       71,485  
    Property and casualty   14,742       12,926       55,767       51,015  
    Commissions and underwriting expenses   12,290       9,294       48,030       46,124  
    Interest expense   828       862       3,419       3,269  
    Other expense   4,041       3,834       16,211       15,465  
                   
    Total benefits and expenses   48,498       49,847       193,491       187,358  
                   
    Income (loss) before income taxes   545       (3,102 )     (5,264 )     (565 )
    Income tax expense (benefit)   133       (874 )     (996 )     (394 )
                   
    Net income (loss) $ 412     $ (2,228 )   $ (4,268 )   $ (171 )
                   
    Earnings (loss) per common share (basic & diluted) $ 0.02     $ (0.11 )   $ (0.23 )   $ (0.03 )
                   
    Reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measure              
                   
    Net income (loss) $ 412     $ (2,228 )   $ (4,268 )   $ (171 )
    Income tax expense (benefit)   133       (874 )     (996 )     (394 )
    Realized investment gains, net   (1,193 )     –       (1,210 )     (70 )
    Unrealized (gains) losses on equity securities, net   (101 )     (1,190 )     1,516       2,177  
                   
    Non-GAAP operating income (loss) $ (749 )   $ (4,292 )   $ (4,958 )   $ 1,542  
                   
           
      December 31,   December 31,        
    Selected balance sheet data   2024       2023          
                   
    Total cash and investments $ 265,696     $ 265,368          
    Insurance subsidiaries   258,675       259,253          
    Parent and other   7,021       6,115          
    Total assets   393,428       381,265          
    Insurance reserves and policyholder funds   225,106       212,422          
    Debt   37,761       36,757          
    Total shareholders’ equity   99,613       107,275          
    Book value per common share   4.61       4.99          
    Statutory capital and surplus              
    Life and health   32,443       38,299          
    Property and casualty   47,670       51,774          
                   

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Vibrant Visuals: Upgrade will transform how players experience Minecraft

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Vibrant Visuals: Upgrade will transform how players experience Minecraft

    Xbox One X Enhanced

    Xbox Game Pass

    CREATE Build whatever you can imagine in your own infinite world that’s unique in every playthrough. EXPLORE Discover biomes, resources and mobs, and craft your way through a world filled with surprises in the ultimate sandbox game. SURVIVE Experience unforgettable adventures as you face mysterious foes, traverse exciting landscapes, and travel to perilous dimensions. PLAY TOGETHER Have a blast with friends, whether you’re sitting on the same couch in split screen or miles apart in cross-platform play for console, mobile and PC. Connect with millions of players on community servers or subscribe to Realms Plus to play with up to 10 friends on your own private server. EXPERIENCE MORE Get creator-made add-ons, thrilling worlds, and stylish cosmetics on Minecraft Marketplace. Subscribe to Marketplace Pass (or Realms Plus) to access 150+ worlds, skin & textures packs, and more – refreshed monthly.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Level up your AI skills on March 28, National AI Literacy Day

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Level up your AI skills on March 28, National AI Literacy Day

    Build your AI skills and celebrate National AI Literacy Day with our free resources.

    Educators across the world are using AI to streamline lesson planning, personalize instruction, and enhance accessibility. According to our AI in education report, many educators, students, and school leaders are already incorporating AI into school-related activities. On March 28, 2025, we’re celebrating National AI Literacy Day in the US. This nationwide initiative is a fantastic opportunity to expand your understanding of AI, discover practical ways to use it in education, and explore our AI literacy resources.

    There’s a strong opportunity to boost understanding and use AI more intentionally through professional learning and thoughtful practices. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to refine your AI capabilities, we have free training and resources to help you build AI skills and integrate AI in meaningful and responsible ways. Get started by exploring our curated list of resources to help you and your students develop AI literacy skills.

    Develop your AI literacy with professional learning

    To support meaningful AI integration in education, it’s important to engage in professional development opportunities that build foundational knowledge. Explore these free learning resources designed to deepen your expertise and give you the tools to incorporate AI into your classroom:

    Start the AI for educators learning path

    By engaging with these resources, you’ll build confidence in using AI and discover innovative ways to support student learning and save time. Continue growing your expertise by experimenting with AI tools and collaborating with peers to share best practices.

    Grow your skillset with the Microsoft AI Skills Fest

    Join the Microsoft AI Skills Fest to build your skills and stay ahead. No matter your role in education, the AI Skills Fest offers experiences tailored to your needs. Engage in deep dives, experiential content, hackathons, and practical sessions that will enhance your AI skills over 50 days of discovery and learning, starting April 8, 2025.

    Register for the AI Skills Fest

    Additionally, we can make history together while attempting a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDSTM title for most users to take an online multi-level artificial intelligence lesson in 24 hours. It’s easy: Join us on April 8, build your skills, test your knowledge, and attest your participation. We’ll kick things off on April 7 at 23:00 UTC (9:00 AM AEST) and conclude on April 8 at 23:00 UTC (16:00 PDT), with learning events scheduled around the globe. Participate in this unique opportunity to learn, compete, and celebrate your achievements!

    Enhance teaching and learning with Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat

    Copilot Chat enhances teaching and learning by helping you simplify administrative tasks, personalize learning, and enhance creativity. Learn how you can maximize the potential of AI in education with the following Copilot Chat resources:

    Start the Copilot Chat learning module

    These materials will help you integrate Copilot Chat into your daily workflows and create more engaging learning experiences. Keep exploring new ways to leverage AI-powered tools to personalize instruction, prepare students for the future, and save time on your routine tasks.

    Improve your students’ AI literacy

    Building students’ AI literacy is essential to preparing them for the future. Use these pre-planned lessons and immersive experiences to demonstrate AI concepts while fostering critical thinking and responsible AI use:

    • AI Foundations – Discover a set of accessible, engaging materials for building AI literacy with Minecraft. The program is designed to empower students, educators, and families with a fundamental understanding of how AI works and how to use AI tools responsibly.
    • CyberSafe AI: Dig Deeper – Help students develop responsible AI habits by exploring academic integrity, human oversight, and data privacy in this engaging Minecraft world.
    • AI Classroom Toolkit – Access lesson plans, activities, and teaching strategies for students ages 13-15 to introduce AI literacy into your classroom.
    Explore AI literacy with Minecraft

    By incorporating these experiences into your curriculum, you’ll empower students to understand and interact with AI responsibly. Encourage continued learning by fostering discussions about the role of AI in society and the importance of human-centered skills for future careers.

    Build a solid foundation with online safety

    Empowering students and their families to support informed choices about their online activity is crucial, especially in the context of generative AI. As students engage with AI, it’s important that they have the skills to stay safe and make informed decisions. In 2024, we launched a Family Safety Toolkit which provides guidance on how to use Microsoft’s safety features and family safety settings. This toolkit supports and enhances digital parenting and offers guidance for families looking to navigate the world of generative AI together.

    Access the Family Safety Toolkit

    Take the opportunity to build your AI skills on National AI Literacy Day and continue to enhance them throughout the year. By embracing AI literacy, you can empower yourself and your students to confidently navigate the evolving digital landscape. Get started with our free AI literacy resources today to deepen your understanding, integrate AI into your teaching, and prepare your students for the future.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Electronics SA and Concentrix Open Business-to-Business Customer Centre in Johannesburg

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics SA, in partnership with Concentrix, a global provider of technology and services solutions, is proud to announce the opening of a new Business-to-Business (B2B) customer sales centre in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. This exciting collaboration aims to provide resellers with access to Samsung’s extensive range of innovative products and solutions, further strengthening the company’s B2B relationships across South Africa.
     
    The partnership saw the launch of a state-of-the-art customer centre, which began operations on 01 February 2025. Designed specifically for resellers, the facility focuses on serving the top 300 ICT suppliers (small businesses) and 100 retail independent companies, offering a range of products including home appliances, televisions, and monitors. The customer centre acts as a key resource for B2B clients, driving increased access to Samsung’s offerings and fostering deeper, more impactful relationships with its reseller network.
     
    “We’re excited to partner with Concentrix on this new venture, which will give B2B clients in South Africa the opportunity to directly engage with our products and services in a focused, tailored environment,” said Mike van Lier, Vice President of Consumer Electronics at Samsung South Africa. “This partnership not only allows us to expand our reach within the reseller community but also reinforces our commitment to providing top-notch, innovative solutions to businesses across the region.”
     

     
     
    Concentrix, renowned for delivering technology-driven, intelligence-fuelled business solutions, will play a critical role in managing operations at the centre. With a proven track record in driving success for global brands, Concentrix is well-positioned to ensure a seamless experience for Samsung’s B2B resellers.
     
    “We are thrilled to work with Samsung on this dynamic initiative. By providing resellers with greater access to Samsung’s products and solutions, we’re helping to create a more streamlined and efficient process for the B2B sector. This partnership will not only enhance the reseller experience but also foster long-lasting relationships that will benefit all stakeholders involved,” said Brandon Aitken at Concentrix.
     
    The customer centre’s focus on resellers ensures that Samsung can offer specialised support and identify potential issues early in the process, guaranteeing a smooth and responsive experience. This strategic partnership is expected to significantly enhance Samsung’s ability to provide consistent, ongoing support to its B2B clients and further expand its footprint in the market.
     
    The opening of the B2B customer centre marks another milestone in Samsung’s long-standing commitment to innovation, client-centric solutions, and strengthening partnerships across various business sectors. For more information, contact adminsam@concentrix.com.
     
    For more information on Samsung products, visit https://www.samsung.com/za/business/.
     

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, Mulholland Grocery

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    Published: March 25, 2025
    Throughout this Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.
    RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Mulholland Grocery of Mills County. Throughout the 119th Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.
    “For nearly 150 years, Mulholland Grocery has been a cornerstone of the Malvern community, offering fresh grocery products and beloved local favorites like ham salad and smoked meats,” said Chair Ernst. “After a devasting fire destroyed the business in 2021, Tom Mulholland worked to rebuild and expand his family’s legacy, demonstrating the importance of small businesses and their community network.”
    In 1875, Fred E. Mulholland opened Mulholland Grocery as a dry goods store in the heart of Malvern, Iowa. Fred expanded the store in 1903 to include a small cash-and-carry grocery section, which eventually grew to be the family business. In 1945, Fred passed away, leaving the business to his son, Fred A. Mulholland, who managed it for almost 30 years until 1972. The business changed hands several times before returning to the Mulholland family ownership in 2008 when Tom Mulholland purchased it. 
    Mulholland Grocery is well known for its iconic ham salad, breakfast bratwurst, smoked meats, and warm customer service. In December 2021, tragedy struck when a massive fire devastated the Main Street location. Tom and his team transformed and modernized it, reopening the store in December 2024. This April, Mulholland Grocery plans to officially commemorate its grand reopening and its 150th anniversary in Iowa.
    Stay tuned as Chair Ernst recognizes more Iowa small businesses across the state with her Small Business of the Week award.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Rate Expands in Knoxville Market with Hire of Adrian Hall as Branch Manager

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KNOXVILLE, Tenn., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rate, a leader in fintech mortgage solutions, announced today the addition of Adrian Hall as Branch Manager to lead its growing presence in the Knoxville market. With deep roots in the community and a drive to help local families achieve homeownership, Hall brings over a decade of experience in mortgage lending and financial education to his role.

    “Joining Rate was a natural fit,” said Hall. “They walk the walk—everything else comes second. That showed in their processes, technology, rates, and products and how they handled the Knoxville office launch. I always knew what to expect, and they made sure I felt confident every step of the way. That’s the kind of organization I want to partner with, because that’s exactly how I serve my homebuying and refinance clients.”

    A Knoxville native and seasoned industry professional, Hall has helped over 10,000 individuals improve their credit, pay off debt, and take control of their financial futures through his background in financial education. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Hall is an active community leader, serving as Secretary of the Knoxville Mortgage Bankers Association, Treasurer and Board Member of the Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce, and President of the Knoxville chapter of the National Association of Minority Mortgage Bankers of America (NAMMBA).

    “We are so happy to have Adrian join our Rate team in Tennessee,” said Jeff Nelson, Chief Production Officer-East at Rate. “He is a true professional, and we are proud to have him leading our team in Knoxville.”

    As Rate continues to expand across the Southeast, Hall’s appointment marks a significant milestone in its mission to bring smart, simple, and accessible mortgage solutions to more homebuyers in the region.

    About Rate

    Rate Companies is a leader in mortgage lending and digital financial services. Headquartered in Chicago, Rate has over 850 branches across all 50 states and Washington D.C. Since its launch in 2000, Rate has helped more than 2 million homeowners with home purchase loans and refinances. The company has cemented itself as an industry leader by introducing innovative technology, offering low rates, and delivering unparalleled customer service. Honors and awards include Best Mortgage Lender for First-Time Homebuyers by NerdWallet for 2023; HousingWire’s Tech100 award for the company’s industry-leading FlashClose℠ digital mortgage platform in 2020, MyAccount in 2022, and Language Access Program in 2023; the most Scotsman Guide Top Originators for 11 consecutive years; Chicago Agent Magazine’s Lender of the Year for seven consecutive years; and Chicago Tribune’s Top Workplaces list for seven straight years. Visit rate.com for more information.

    Press Contact
    press@rate.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/030f6e72-be6c-4c49-90b9-29c76cb526dc

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bectran Introduces Enhanced Fraud Security & Applicant Verification Capabilities with Latest Integration

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bectran, Inc., the industry leader in credit, collections and accounts receivable management technology, has introduced a new integration with a leading global data and technology firm, delivering advanced identity verification, fraud detection and risk-based authentication right to your credit application process.

    “With this latest integration, our clients gain access to a powerful baseline report that will reshape credit application workflows,” comments Louis Ifeguni, Bectran CEO. “This report simplifies verification processes, enhances fraud security and reduces the need—and cost—associated with pulling multiple reports on each credit application.”

    Identity Verification and Fraud Detection

    Credit managers are at constant risk of falling victim to identity and lending fraud when reviewing credit applications. Bectran’s newest integration relieves the complexity and costs associated with navigating identity verification by utilizing an enormous network of live identity databases.

    Credit managers can now access a one-stop shop for fraud prevention and general applicant verification reporting directly through Bectran. Combining aspects of both personal and commercial reporting, an applicant’s person, business, personal guarantor and officers can all be verified by this integration and evaluated through Bectran. Utilizing a configurable confidence-based risk score, the new reports compare business name, corporate registration status, address (state, street, etc.), commercial score risk and much more with an extensive array of third-party databases, providing cross-referencing layers of verification. With this report, credit managers can be confident that an applicant is who they say they are and that their business is registered, trustworthy and active.

    For added fraud protection, specific attributes in the reports that do not coincide with received applicant data are flagged, providing immediate notice to credit managers without the need to leave their workflow on Bectran’s platform.

    About Bectran 

    Bectran is the premier SaaS platform for Finance Departments, akin to CRM for Sales. Trusted by diverse organizations, from SMEs to Fortune 500 companies, we streamline credit processing by over 98%, reducing credit defaults and collection costs. Many businesses rely on Bectran for efficient Accounts Receivable and Collections management, achieving up to 95% cost savings. With rapid onboarding in days, our platform is hailed by credit professionals as the future of credit management. Visit Bectran.com to learn more about financial solutions for your industry.

    Aidan Starkes
    Content & Copywriter
    Bectran Inc
    (888) 791-6620 
    PR@Bectran.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Valley National Bancorp to Announce First Quarter 2025 Earnings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Valley National Bancorp (NASDAQ:VLY), the holding company for Valley National Bank, announced that it will release its first quarter 2025 earnings before the market opens on Thursday, April 24, 2025.

    Valley’s CEO, Ira Robbins will host a conference call on Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 11:00 AM (ET) to discuss Valley’s first quarter 2025 earnings. Interested parties should pre-register using this link: https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI95ef56d0bd28482f8f4df37ca7eeb99d to receive the dial-in number and a personal PIN, which are required to access the conference call.

    The teleconference will also be webcast live: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/ka3n3dn3 and archived on Valley’s website through Monday, May 26, 2025.  

    Investor presentation materials will be made available prior to the conference call at www.valley.com.

    About Valley

    As the principal subsidiary of Valley National Bancorp, Valley National Bank is a regional bank with $62 billion in assets. Valley is committed to giving people and businesses the power to succeed. Valley operates many convenient branch locations and commercial banking offices across New Jersey, New York, Florida, Alabama, California, and Illinois, and is committed to providing the most convenient service, the latest innovations and an experienced and knowledgeable team dedicated to meeting customer needs. Helping communities grow and prosper is the heart of Valley’s corporate citizenship philosophy. To learn more about Valley, go to www.valley.com or call our Customer Care Center at 800-522-4100.

    Contact:    Travis Lan
    Senior Executive Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer
    973-686-5007
         

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: VERB Publishes Management’s Prepared Remarks During Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Earnings Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LAS VEGAS and LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Verb Technology Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: VERB) (“VERB” or the “Company”), Transforming the Landscape of Social Commerce, Social Telehealth and Social Crowdfunding with MARKET.live; VANITYPrescribed; GoodGirlRx; and the GO FUND YOURSELF TV Show, today filed its Form 10-K reporting financial and operating results for the full year and the quarter ending December 31, 2024 and held an earnings conference call at 1 p.m. ET to discuss these results. Prepared remarks during the conference call of Rory J. Cutaia, the Company’s Chairman & CEO, are provided below.

    Company Participant
    Rory J. Cutaia, CEO

    Operator:
    Good afternoon and welcome to the full-year and fourth quarter 2024 Financial Results Conference Call for Verb Technology Company, Inc. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. Please be advised, the call is being recorded at the Company’s request.

    On our call today is Rory J. Cutaia, Verb’s Founder, Chairman and CEO

    Before we begin, I’d like to remind everyone that statements made during this conference call will include forward-looking statements under the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, except as required by law, as the underlying facts and circumstances may change. Verb Technology Company disclaims any obligations to update these forward-looking statements, as well as those contained in the Company’s current and subsequent filings with the SEC.

    I would now like to turn the call over to Rory J. Cutaia, CEO. Rory?

    Rory:
    Thank you moderator, and thanks to everyone for joining us today for our fourth quarter and full-year 2024 financial results and business update conference call.

    Well it sure feels good being back before you, speaking directly to you about our company, our business, our performance, and sharing our direct, transparent, honest thoughts and strategies for how we intend to drive shareholder value in this business now and into the future.

    I’d like to begin with a brief discussion about our history and the challenging market conditions that influenced the formulation of the strategies we undertook to insulate ourselves from those conditions. I’m referring to insulating ourselves from those market conditions that became impediments to value creation in our former direct sales Software as a Service line of business, as well as those market conditions, particularly capital markets conditions, that affected, and are affecting many, many small and micro-cap exchange-listed companies even today.

    Then I’d like to discuss the strategies that we employed and the changes we’ve made that underlie the impressive results we’re now seeing in the business. I’ll also touch on the strategies we employed that resulted in what I’m proud to state is a well cash-infused, extremely healthy debt-free balance sheet and a super clean cap table, the combination of which provide the all-important foundation for the impressive revenue growth we’re now enjoying.

    Ok – let’s jump in. Historically, we were an R&D driven technology business, built around a SaaS platform, with a customer base that was comprised of, for the most part, direct sales companies, or as they are sometimes referred to: multi-level marketing companies. When we entered the market with our interactive video-based sales software, we set out to become the dominant player in this sector. What we saw at that time was the opportunity to address a market that included the large-scale sales teams, including tens of thousands of independent sales reps that these companies managed, all of whom needed a simple and effective, mobile-based sales tool.

    Over time we learned valuable lessons. First, while we onboarded large numbers of new sales reps every month, the attrition rate among sales reps at these companies was extraordinarily high, making it difficult and costly to generate meaningful revenue growth. In addition, while we developed what we believe were extremely effective tools to help sales reps, even inexperienced sales reps generate and convert sales leads, outdated internal communications policies at these companies prohibited us from communicating these tools and how to use them directly to the fields of sales reps which may have curtailed much of the sales rep attrition, as the companies that managed these reps were often ineffective at doing so themselves. Finally, the ever-changing nature of the customer base we served, as well as the give-it-away below cost pricing models adopted by competitors who found themselves marginalized by our superior product offering, required continued, costly R&D expenditures, and continued returns to the capital markets.

    These factors, coupled with what we perceived to be declining market multiples for SaaS businesses generally, drove our decision to sell that business unit and focus instead on our new, though not yet revenue-generating – Market.live, livestream shopping business. A bold move indeed, but one that has certainly proven now to have been in the best interests of our shareholders. This was the first prong of our multi-pronged strategy to restructure, reconstitute, and re-invent VERB.

    The next prong of our strategy was to insulate ourselves from the predatory financing terms imposed universally on companies like ours who relied on access to the capital markets to fund continued R&D and other growth capital requirements. Almost every financing initiative we undertook was fraught with last minute re-trading of material deal terms, ridiculous warrant coverage terms and conditions, post-deal financing exclusivity arrangements, tying the Company to bad financings into the future when additional capital was needed – all of which made us – and so many other companies in the same situation – perfect targets for short-selling – and for companies with any kind of trading volume, greed-driven illegal naked short-selling.

    It wasn’t hard to target companies that announced an upcoming financing as short-sellers could be confident that deal terms and corresponding share prices would be below whatever the then current trading price was. This capital markets environment eroded share prices across the board resulting in reverse splits required to maintain exchange listing requirements, and destroyed cap tables and balance sheets causing an unprecedented level of exchange de-listings. Ultimately, it was the individual retail investors, left without sufficiently aggressive regulatory intervention, who bore the brunt of this market activity and still do.

    To avoid this awful outcome, we developed a unique strategy to utilize Reg A to structure our capitalize raise initiatives and avoid the predatory hedge-fund investors, allowing us to issue straight common shares, priced at-the-market, with no warrant coverage, and no investment banking fees. This financing vehicle, unique for publicly-traded companies, among other financing strategies, allowed us to pay-off all of our debt, redeem all of the previously issued preferred shares, completely restructure our balance sheet, padding it with cash, taking shareholder equity from almost $2 million negative in June 2023 to more than $16 million positive in December 2024, and giving us a cash runway, conservatively assuming zero revenue growth, well into 2028 and beyond.

    The shareholder approved reverse split we did last year resulted in an extremely tight – less than 1 million share float – and essentially eliminated all of the warrant overhang from years-ago predatory financings. We’re very proud of how well that series of initiatives was executed, completing that important second prong of our multi-pronged strategy to restructure, reconstitute, and re-invent VERB.

    The next prong of our strategy was to diversify our revenue streams to insulate ourselves from changes in the market, including economic and regulatory changes, as well as changes within our own customer base and demand for our products and services. The challenge was to identify and develop independent, yet complementary revenue producing business units that could leverage the cost savings produced by a unified internal finance, sales, marketing, and technology department structure utilized by and across all business units.

    Recognizing that the core of our business was our interactive social video commerce technology and know-how, our strategy was to exploit those capabilities by entering the exploding telehealth industry, leading to the development and launch of VANITY Prescribed, followed by GoodGirlRX in partnership with TV and social media celebrity Savannah Chrisley, and then the development and launch of GO FUND YOURSELF, our very exciting, fast-growing crowd funding marketing platform. To give a sense of the revenue potential for Go Fund Yourself, we launched it in Q3 with little to no marketing and recognized $25 thousand in revenue – and then in Q4 we recognized $233 thousand in revenue. And if any of the more recent developments come to fruition for the Show – 2025 may be an extraordinary year for Go Fund Yourself and VERB stockholders.

    VANITY Prescribed was in development during Q3 and Q4, identifying suppliers, onboarding suppliers, then replacing suppliers, developing our online patient screening and prescription approval process, and shoring up our supply chain in anticipation of participating in the extraordinary growth of the telehealth space following the introduction and rapid adoption of the new GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. Revenue, though now growing, was modest through that period and we’re excited for a broad-based launch and marketing campaign that is about to get under way.

    As to MARKET.live, at the end of Q3, we changed our focus and product offering by providing what we believe is an industry-leading end-to-end solution for brands seeking to adopt a social commerce strategy that they cannot manage in-house on a cost effective basis. That strategy has proven to be enormously successful producing exponential revenue growth. As reflected in our 2024 Form 10-K filed today, in Q1 we generated revenue of $7 thousand, in Q2 we generated revenue of $37 thousand, in Q3 we generated revenue of $103 thousand, and in Q4 we generated revenue of $490 thousand. An impressive and most welcomed trend by anyone’s standards.

    Combined 2024 revenue was $895 thousand, an increase of $832 thousand over 2023, representing revenue growth of 1,321% over that period. This performance is the greatest amount of revenue generated since the strategic sale of the Company’s direct sales SaaS business unit in June 2023.

    Looking at Q4 alone, we generated $723 thousand, an increase of $694 thousand over the same period last year, representing revenue growth of almost 2,400% over that period. And as compared to Q3 2024, revenue in Q4 increased by $595 thousand, representing growth of almost 465% quarter-over-quarter.

    While we historically do not provide going-forward guidance, we are comfortable sharing our expectation that Q1 2025 will surpass Q4 2024.

    Finally, as to the last prong of our multi-pronged strategy to restructure, reconstitute, and re-invent VERB, we recognized that any business that fails to identify and develop an artificial intelligence strategy will be marginalized. With that in mind, we explored a number of different strategies, including developing our own A.I. capabilities in-house, which we smartly rejected. Instead, we scoured the market for a company with a developed, tested, proprietary A.I. solution uniquely tailored to video-based social commerce. Upon testing the A.I. and social commerce capabilities of LyveCom, a bleeding-edge, video-based social commerce start-up, we entered into a licensing agreement to incorporate their technology into our MARKET.live platform.

    To our great surprise, we found that the integration of LyveCom’s tech resulted in a massive operational cost reduction. In fact, we anticipate a direct operational cost reduction of approximately $1 million per year. However, perhaps more importantly, we also recognized that the addition of LyveCom’s technology created an entirely new, updated platform, feature rich with capabilities far beyond our current platform and certainly beyond that of many other social commerce platforms. So rather than simply license the technology and risk LyveCom being acquired by a competitor, limiting our access to the technology and future iterations of it, we decided to acquire it ourselves. It is our expectation that the acquisition will be highly accretive and produce meaningful value for VERB stockholders.

    With the closing of the LyveCom acquisition, which remains on track and is expected to occur in the coming weeks, we will have effectively completed the transition of VERB from an unprofitable, cash-hungry business in a challenging market, to an extremely well-capitalized, well diversified business, with proven, strong, fast-growing revenue generation capabilities, A.I.-ready, with a tight float, clean cap table and debt-free balance sheet, poised for meaningful continued growth.

    In closing, I refer you to our Form 10-K filed today for greater details concerning our 2024 financial results as well as the press release distributed today summarizing those results for additional information I’ve not covered in my conference call today. I’ve chosen instead to use this time to provide context for those results and share our strategies and ongoing initiatives for continued growth and value-creation for VERB stockholders.

    Finally, and as anyone who can read a balance can see, with under 1 million shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024, and debt-free with more than $13 million in cash and highly liquid securities – and assuming ZERO value given for our three revenue generating business units – I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that our net cash value per common share is at least $13.50, which we believe represents a very compelling opportunity, very compelling indeed.

    I thank you for allowing me to address you all today and share with you our excitement and optimism for VERB shareholders now and into the future.

    Operator: This concludes the conference call. You may now disconnect.

    About VERB
    Verb Technology Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: VERB), is the innovative force behind interactive video-based social commerce. The Company operates three business units, each of which leverages its social commerce technology and video marketing expertise. The Company’s MARKET.live platform is a multi-vendor, livestream social shopping destination at the forefront of the convergence of e-commerce and entertainment, where brands, retailers, creators, and influencers engage their customers, clients, fans, and followers across multiple social media channels simultaneously. GO FUND YOURSELF is a revolutionary interactive social crowd funding platform and TV show for public and private companies seeking broad-based exposure across social media channels for their crowd-funded Regulation CF and Regulation A offerings. The platform combines a ground-breaking interactive TV show with MARKET.live’s back-end capabilities allowing viewers to tap, scan or click on their screen to facilitate an investment, in real time, as they watch companies presenting before the show’s panel of “Titans”. Presenting companies that sell consumer products are able to offer their products directly to viewers during the show in real time through shoppable onscreen icons. VANITYPrescribed.com and GoodGirlRx.com are telehealth portals, intended to redefine telehealth by offering a seamless, digital-first experience that empowers individuals to take control of their healthcare needs. They were designed and developed to disrupt the traditional healthcare model by providing tailored healthcare solutions at affordable, fixed prices – without hidden fees, membership costs, or inflated pharmaceutical markups. GoodGirlRx.com, a partnership with Savannah Chrisley, a well-known lifestyle personality and advocate for health and wellness, offers customers access to convenient, no-hassle telehealth services and pharmaceuticals, including the new weight-loss drugs, with fixed pricing regardless of dosage, breaking away from the industry’s traditional model of excessive pricing and pharmaceutical gatekeeping.

    The Company is headquartered in Las Vegas, NV and operates full-service production and creator studios in Los Alamitos, California.

    For more information, please visit: www.verb.tech

    Follow VERB and MARKET.live here:
    VERB on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VerbTechCo
    VERB on Twitter: https://twitter.com/VerbTech_Co
    VERB on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/verb-tech
    VERB on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0eCb_fwQlwEG3ywHDJ4_KQ

    Sign up for E-mail Alerts here: https://ir.verb.tech/news-events/email-alerts

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
    This communication contains “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance, or achievements. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, those identified in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including our annual, quarterly and current reports filed with the SEC and the risk factors included in our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC today. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

    Investor Relations Contact: investors@verb.tech

    Media Contact: info@verb.tech

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Prestigious award win for city centre project

    Source: City of Plymouth

    The works to rejuvenate Old Town and New George Street in the city centre have been recognised in the Best Landscape at the Concrete Society Awards. 

    This accolade recognises the transformational regeneration of a formerly dated shopping street, now revitalised with high-quality materials to create a modern retail area fit for the 21st century.

    The completed works have already attracted new businesses to Plymouth, bringing in business rates that can be reinvested into vital services. This influx of new retailers supports the city’s growth ambitions and enhances the public realm.

    The massive makeover has transformed the dated eighties landscaping, replacing it with islands of greenery, 25 new semi-mature trees, ornamental planting, and rain gardens. New granite paving has been installed to make the area more attractive and reduce the likelihood of trips and falls. Additionally, new street lighting and decorative lighting have been added to create a wow factor after dark, along with additional CCTV cameras to improve coverage.

    Old Town Street / New George Street Regeneraiton

    Councillor Mark Lowry, Plymouth City Council Cabinet Member responsible for city centre works, said: “The overall works are truly impressive and have made a significant impact on our city centre, breathing new life into what was once a dated area.

    “The new greenery, trees, and ornamental planting have created a vibrant and welcoming space for shoppers, visitors and businesses. With the local business community already making use of the space for their events and activities. I look forward to seeing even more in the future.”

    Councillor Lewis Allison, the new Champion for Second Homes Council Tax and Business Rate Growth, highlighted the economic benefits of the scheme. He added: “This new public area is modern, spacious and attractive and footfall is bucking the national trend.

    “The completed works are already attracting new businesses to Plymouth, bringing in business rates that can be reinvested into vital services. This influx of new retailers supports our ambition for growth in city centre through higher quality public realm.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –